An electronic still camera in which taken images are recorded onto a memory card has an LCD for image display, a RAM for image storage and a switch for image selection. Photographing is started before a direction to start recording is provided by the user. Photographing is continued even after the direction is provided and a predetermined number of images taken over a period spanning before and after the direction to start recording is provided are stored in the RAM. The images stored in the RAM are successively displayed on the LCD and the images which the user determines to be necessary and specifies by operating the switch are recorded onto the memory card.

This application is based on applications Nos. H9-060911, H09-060914, and H9-060916 filed in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more specifically, to an electronic still camera having a function to prevent the right moment to take a photo from being missed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to prevent the right moment to take a photo (hereinafter, this moment will be referred to as xe2x80x9cshutter chancexe2x80x9d) from being missed, an electronic still camera has been proposed which has a mode in which a plurality of images taken over a period spanning before and after the release operation is performed are recorded (hereinafter, this mode will be referred to as xe2x80x9cshutter chance modexe2x80x9d). In the camera having this mode, an internal memory is provided for temporarily storing images therein and an operation as described below has conventionally been performed.
When placed in the shutter chance mode, the camera starts photographing and storage of taken images in the internal memory irrespective of whether the user of the camera performs the release operation or not. After the start of the storage, after a predetermined number of images have been stored, the oldest image is replaced by the latest image one after another. The camera continues the photographing and the storage until a predetermined number of images have been taken after the release operation is performed. Then, the camera reads out the images stored in the internal memory and records them onto a recording medium such as a memory card. As the recording medium, that of an external device such as a personal computer connected to the camera is sometimes employed.
By thus recording the images taken over a period spanning before and after the release operation, an image taken at a substantially optimum moment is included in images taken before the release operation when the release operation by the user is late for the shutter chance, and is included in images taken after the release operation when the release operation is performed too early. As a result, the possibility is greatly reduced that the shutter chance is missed.
Memory cards are widely used as a standard recording medium for electronic still cameras; they are removable, and come in various recording capacities. However, at present, even memory cards having largest capacities available can store several tens of images at most. On the other hand, recording media that are used as external devices for personal computers and the like have far larger capacities than memory cards, and therefore they can store a huge number of images. If one of such external devices is connected to a camera, there will be practically no limit in terms of recording capacity, and thus it will be possible to use the shutter chance mode frequently. Unnecessary images can be erased readily later.
However, in conventional cameras, the number of images that can be shot and stored in the shutter chance mode is fixed regardless of the recording medium used. As a result, when the number of images that can be stored is set according to the capacity of a large-capacity recording medium, only a limited number of scenes can be stored in a memory card, whereas, when the number is determined according to the capacity of the memory card, it is not possible to make the most of the capacity of the large-capacity recording medium.
Moreover, since all the images stored in the internal memory in the shutter chance mode are recorded onto the recording medium, unnecessary images as well as necessary images are stored in the recording medium. For this reason, the recording capacity of the recording medium is wastefully used, so that the number of scenes that can be recorded is small. While the use of a large-capacity recording medium enables photographing of many scenes, this does not provide essential avoidance of waste of the recording capacity.
Since recording media for electronic still cameras are rewritable, it is a way of avoiding the waste of recording capacity to reproduce all of the recorded images when all the recording capacity of the recording medium has been used, determine the necessity of each image and erase the unnecessary images. However, according to this method, when all the recording capacity has been used after the erasure of the unnecessary images, it is necessitated to determine the necessity of all the images including the images that were not erased in the previous determination, so that the determination is performed a plurality of times for the same images. This is inconvenient.
In conventional cameras, the shutter chance mode simply repeats shooting at equal time intervals, and therefore, in cases where the object is moving quickly, there is, even in the shutter chance mode, a possibility that the best shutter chance is missed. Some cameras are provided with different modes such as a xe2x80x9cnormal modexe2x80x9d for shooting a stationary or slowly moving object and a xe2x80x9csports modexe2x80x9d for shooting a quickly moving object so that an appropriate mode can be selected at least for single-shot shooting. Even in such cameras, however, no consideration is given, in the shutter chance mode, to the speed of the object""s motion.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera that, even in the shutter chance mode, can store a number of scenes in a recording medium having a relatively small capacity and can make the most of a recording medium having a relatively large capacity.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera wherein, of the images taken in the shutter chance mode, only necessary images are recorded onto a recording medium.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera that can shoot even a quickly moving object surely without missing a shutter chance.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an electronic still camera is provided with an imaging apparatus for photographing a subject and generating image data of the subject; an operation member for providing a direction to start photographing; a first memory for storing therein image data of an image taken by the imaging apparatus; a selector for selecting any one of image data of a plurality of frames stored in the first memory; a second memory for storing therein image data of an image frame selected by the selector; and a controller for executing a pre-photographing control in which prior to the direction to start photographing provided by the operation member, the imaging apparatus is caused to photograph the subject and image data are stored in the first memory, and a post-photographing control in which in response to the direction to start photographing provided by the operation member, the imaging apparatus is caused to photograph the subject and image data are stored in the first memory. This electronic still camera is so designed that the selector selects any one of images of a plurality of frames taken through the pre-photographing control and the post-photographing control executed by the controller.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic still camera is provided with an imaging apparatus for photographing a subject and generating image data of the subject; an operation member for providing a direction to start photographing; a memory for storing therein image data of an image taken by the imaging apparatus; and a controller for executing a pre-photographing control in which prior to the direction to start photographing provided by the operation member, the imaging apparatus is caused to repeatedly photograph the subject in a predetermined photographic cycle and image data are stored in the memory, and a post-photographing control in which in response to the direction to start photographing provided by the operation member, the imaging apparatus is caused to photograph the subject and image data are stored. This electronic still camera is designed to be capable of photographing in a plurality of photographic modes, and is so designed that the cycle is set in accordance with a selected photographic mode.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic still camera is provided with an imaging apparatus for photographing a subject and generating image data of the subject; an operation member for providing a direction to start photographing; a memory for storing therein image data of an image taken by the imaging apparatus; and a controller for causing the imaging apparatus to repeatedly perform photographing in a predetermined cycle over a predetermined photographic period spanning before and after the direction to start photographing is provided by the operation member. This electronic still camera is designed to be capable of photographing in a plurality of photographic modes, and is so designed that the cycle is set in accordance with a selected photographic mode.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic still camera is provided with an imaging apparatus for photographing a subject and generating image data of the subject; an operation member for providing a direction to start photographing; a memory for storing therein image data of an image taken by the imaging apparatus; and a controller for executing a pre-photographing control in which prior to the direction to start photographing provided by the operation member, the imaging apparatus is caused to repeatedly photograph the subject and image data of a predetermined number of frames are stored in the memory, and a post-photographing control in which in response to the direction to start photographing provided by the operation member, the imaging apparatus is caused to photograph the subject and image data are stored. This electronic still camera is designed to be capable of photographing in a plurality of photographic modes, and is so designed that the predetermined number is set in accordance with a selected photographic mode.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, an electronic still camera is provided with an imaging apparatus for photographing a subject and generating image data of the subject; an operation member for providing a direction to start photographing; a memory for storing therein image data of an image taken by the imaging apparatus; and a controller for causing the imaging apparatus to repeatedly perform photographing over a predetermined photographing period spanning before and after the direction to start photographing is provided by the operation member, the controller storing image data of a predetermined number of frames in the memory. This electronic still camera is designed to be capable of photographing in a plurality of photographic modes, and is so designed that the predetermined number is set in accordance with a selected photographic mode.


A bottle charged with a gaseous material intended to be discharged through a range of temperatures but not outside that range, has a valve through which the gaseous material is to be directed. The valve has at least a part wholly inside the bottle, which part has a restricted port through it through which the gaseous material passes to issue from the valve, and a thermally responsive member adapted to block the port when the temperature of the interior of the bottle is outside the range. Preferably, the gaseous material is both introduced to the bottle and discharged from the bottle through the same valve, and the valve has a fill port of larger diameter than the restricted port, and an axially moveable actuating element, and the thermally responsive member is carried by the actuating element.

Not Applicable.
The valved bottle of this invention is described as being filled with a mixture of nitrogen as a carrier gas and ethanol, the mixture being used to standardize or calibrate a breath alcohol testing device, but its utility is not confined thereto. In calibrating breath alcohol determining devices, it is essential that a calibrating gas be uniform and of exactly known alcohol content. The temperature of the ambient air around the cylinder is not a certain measure of the condition of the gaseous mixture within the bottle. It is an object of this invention to provide a valve with means for cutting off the discharge of such gaseous material when the temperature inside the bottle is outside a desired range. For example, when the gaseous material is a common nitrogen/ethanol mixture, the valve is disabled at a temperature of about 35xc2x0 F. (1.7xc2x0 C.), or in any event, a temperature above the dew point of the mixture. As another example, when the gaseous material is oxygen being administered to a patient, it may be desirable to maintain the temperature of the oxygen within a fairly narrow range, which can be accomplished with a valve of this invention. Another source of possible heterogeneity when the gaseous material is a mixture, is in the filling process. In valves through which a mixture of gas and volatile liquid is both introduced to a bottle or tank and discharged from the bottle or tank, conventionally, the passages through which the gas mixture flows in filling and discharging are the same. When the whole or a part of these passages is restricted, and the pressure drop over the restricted passage during the filling process is great, the expansion of the gas as it leaves the restricted passage can so cool the mixture as to cause the volatile liquid to drop out of the mixture (outgas). In addition, the restriction drastically slows the filling process. Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a valve that permits faster filling and minimizes the danger of precipitating a volatile liquid component from a gaseous mixture during the filling process.
In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a bottle charged with a gaseous material intended to be discharged through a range of temperatures but not outside that range, is equipped with a valve through which the gaseous material is to be directed. The valve has a part wholly inside the bottle, the part having a restricted port through it through which the gaseous material passes to issue from the valve, and a thermally responsive member adapted to block the port when the temperature of the gaseous material is outside the predetermined range. The valve also has a fill port of greater diameter than the restricted discharge port, which permits faster filling with less danger of precipitating volatile liquids from a volatile liquid/gas mixture.


A method of manufacturing golf balls is disclosed that prevents the cover from cracking due to thermal expansion of the core during the cover formation process. The method includes the forming a core. One or more optional boundary layers can be applied to the surface of the core. The core and any boundary layers are pre-heated such that the core and any boundary layer undergo volumetric thermal expansion. After the pre-heating, the cover of the ball is formed over the core and any boundary layer. The method of the present invention also decreases cover molding cycle times for golf balls.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf balls. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for manufacturing golf balls and golf balls manufactured thereby.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golf balls may comprise one-piece constructions or they may include several layers including a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover that surrounds any intermediate layer and the core. In multi-component golf balls, there exists an inner core. Often, this core is made by winding a band of elastomeric material about a spherical elastomeric or liquid-filled center. Alternatively, the core may be a unitary spherical core made of a suitable solid elastomeric material. One such material that is conventionally used for the core of golf balls is a base rubber, such as polybutadiene, which is cross-linked with a metal acrylate, such as zinc diacrylate.
In the construction of some multi-component golf balls, an intermediate boundary layer is provided outside and surrounding the core. This intermediate boundary layer is thus disposed between the core and the outer cover of the golf ball.
Located outwardly of the core and any intermediate boundary layer is a cover. The cover is typically made from any number of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, including thermoplastic resins such as ionomeric, polyester, polyetherester or polyetheramide resins; thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethanes; natural or synthetic rubbers such as balata (natural or synthetic) or polybutadiene; or some combination of the above.
Golf balls are typically manufactured by various molding processes, whether one-component or multicomponent balls. Generally, the core of the golf ball is formed by casting, compression molding, injection molding or the like. If an intermediate boundary layer is desired, one or more intermediate boundary layers are added over the core by any number of molding operations, including casting, compression molding, and/or injection molding. The cover is then formed over the core and intermediate boundary layers, if present, through casting, compression molding, and/or injection molding.
One example of a conventional golf ball manufacturing process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,522, issued on Dec. 18, 1962 ("the '522 patent"). The manufacturing process disclosed in the '522 patent uses a molding press having upper and lower die portions that surround a golf ball core. A retractable seat contacts the golf ball core to place the same in the desired orientation within the die cavity. The cover material is then injected into the die cavity to form the cover of the ball. The '522 patent further discloses that the timing of the retraction of the retractable seat is critical and depends, in part, on the flow rate of the cover material into the mold cavity. In order to prevent the retardation of the flow rate or prehardening of the injected coating material, the '522 patent teaches that in some instances, it may be necessary to heat the molding dies and pre-heat the golf ball core to a temperature slightly above ambient temperature.
Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,191 ("the '191 patent"), issued Mar. 16, 1993 discloses a method of preparing thread-wound golf balls. In the '191 patent, a rubber thread or material is wound around a frozen core of material to form a core. Immediately thereafter, the core undergoes microwave heating to rapidly thaw the frozen core without heating the rubber thread layer and without moisture condensation taking place on the surface of the core. The method of the '191 patent allegedly reduces the core thawing time and eliminates the need for a drying step.
These and other current golf ball manufacturing processes continue to suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, when the outer cover of the golf ball is made from a thermoset material, e.g., thermoset polyurethane, the core and any intermediate boundary layer(s) tend to undergo thermal expansion during the casting of the outer cover, as heat is generated by the exothermic reaction of the thermoset processes used in the formation of the cover. As the cover forms, and before the cover develops sufficient green strength, the thermal expansion of the core and any intermediate boundary layer, in turn, may cause the outer cover of the golf ball to fracture or crack. Although this problem is particularly relevant to covers that are formed of thermoset polyurethane, it is not believed to be limited thereto. Similar problems may arise with other materials and processes.
Cracking is not the only problem with the current conventional methods of manufacturing golf balls. Since a temperature gradient exists between the core, intermediate layer, if any, and the outer cover, the central portion of the ball acts as a heat sink that absorbs heat given off during the cover-making process. In this regard, the reaction that takes place to cure the outer cover takes longer given the cooler temperature in the inner core of the ball. Production cycle times are thus adversely increased.
Consequently, there remains a need for methods of manufacturing golf balls that do not suffer from the above disadvantages. Moreover, the methods would preferably decrease the cycle time between production runs.


An EMI shield for personal computers, cellular telephones, and other electronic devices is constructed from thermoformable polymeric material which is then metallized on all surfaces by vacuum metallization techniques to provide an inexpensive, lightweight, yet effective EMI shield.

This invention pertains to shielding apparatus for containing high frequency electromagnetic radiation within a personal computer, cellular telephone, or other electronic instrument.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is a broad term used to describe electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD), and the above terms are often used interchangeably.
The fact that electronic devices are both sources and receptors of EMI creates a two-fold problem. Since electromagnetic radiation penetrating the device may cause electronic failure, manufacturers need to protect the operational integrity of their products. Secondly, manufacturers must comply with the regulations aimed at reducing electromagnetic radiation emitted into the atmosphere. Proper design is necessary to prevent the device""s function from being disrupted by emissions from external sources and to minimize its system""s emissions.
Today, plastics are replacing metals as the material for electronic enclosures since plastics offer increased design flexibility and productivity with decreased cost. The switch from metal to plastics as a housing material for electronic equipment has contributed to concern over EMI shielding. Plastics are insulators, so EMI waves pass freely through unshielded plastic without substantial impedance or resistance. Additionally, ever increasing device miniaturization and the increase in clock speeds of microprocessors used in computing devices makes it more difficult to handle the EMI pollution these faster computers generate. So a variety of technologies using metal/polymer combinations and composites are being used as a shielding material in electronic devices.
Current methods for shielding of electromagnetic interference (EMI) include the use of metal housings, metal, filled polymer housings, metal liners for housings, and conductive coatings for the interior of rigid polymer or composite housings.
Metal coatings for rigid plastic housings are applied through use of conductive paints or through application of metal platings applied by chemical plating (electroless plating), by electroplating, or through vacuum metallization. In addition, metal foils with adhesive backings may be applied to the inside of plastic cases for electronic instruments to achieve shielding requirements. Zinc Arc spray techniques are also available to apply a metal coating to a plastic housing.
Another shielding material is provided through the use of metal fibers sintered onto a polymeric substrate as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,210, and commercially produced as #M 610D Thermoformable EMI-shielding material by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn.
Each of the current shielding methods have shortcomings. The major disadvantages of plating are its high cost, complex process cycles, and its application is limited to only certain polymer resins. Metal-filled resins for injection molding suffer from poor conductivity compared to metals. The conductive polymer resin is very expensive and complex shape molding is difficult from flow and uniformity perspectives.
Three general types of conductive metal-bearing paints are in general use. Silver paints have the bast electrical properties but, they are extremely expensive. Nickel paints are used for relatively low attenuation applications and are limited by high resistance and poor stability. Passivated copper paints have moderate cost and lower resistivity, but also lack stability. All paint applications have difficulties with coating uniformly, blow back in tight areas and recesses depending on part complexity, and application problems which can lead to flaking. Paints also fail ESD testing over 10 KVA.
EMI shielding through the use of metal cases for the personal computer or other electronic device may not always be desired because of concerns about weight and aesthetics, with weight being a serious concern for laptop computers or portable and handheld devices of any types. The use of a metal shroud to line a plastic case improves over the metal case in aesthetic and design concerns for the outside of the housing but results in an increased assembly step and little weight minimization. Metal also lacks the ability to be formed into complex shapes often taking up unnecessary room adjacent to the circuitry and assembled electrical components.
The use of coated plastic housings for electronic devices, including microcomputer and cellular telephones, may not provide a suitable solution when one considers that personal computers currently offered may operate at clock speeds of 100 MHz which gives rise to opportunities for EMI generation not previously confronted in the personal computer industry. Further, the ever increasing clock speeds of the personal computers being offered makes effective shielding more and more challenging since any breach in the shield which has one dimension in excess of 0.23 inch may allow substantial EMI leakage, causing the unit to fail United States Federal Communication Commission standards.
The use of metallic coatings on plastic housings presents certain manufacturing and service concerns. A slipped tool used during assembly or a repair can cause a scratch in the metal coating of sufficient size to cause a slot antenna, thereby making the case totally useless, and thereby leading to a costly item being discarded with little feasibility for successful recycling.
The seams of a metal plated plastic housing will act like slot antennae unless the housing sections are conductively joined by the use of overlapping joints, conductive gaskets, or conductive tape. When the housing must be opened for a repair or retrofit, it can be understood that some of the conductive interconnection may be degraded by the activity of disassembly.
Further background on prior art methods and characteristics of shielding methods may be examined in xe2x80x98EMI/RFI Shielding Guidexe2x80x9d published by the GE Plastics Division of the General Electric Company, and in xe2x80x9cthe Designer""s Guide to Electromagnetic Compatibilityxe2x80x9d by Gerke and Kimmel, Supplement to EDN Magazine, Volume 39, No. 2, (Jan. 20, 1994) to both of which the reader is directed.
This invention pertains to EMI shielding for personal computers, cellular telephones and other electronic devices which are subject to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. A thermoformable polymeric sheet is formed into an enclosure sized and shaped to enclose an EMI emitting subsystem or component. The thermoformed polymeric enclosure is then metallized on all or selected surfaces by vacuum metallizing techniques where the thermoformed enclosure is placed in a vacuum chamber, treated with an ionized gas, and then metallized by the use of aluminum or other metal being vaporized by use, for example, of a current-passing tungsten filament, or other vaporization techniques. The enclosure is rotated within the chamber to allow metallization of all desired surfaces. Masking may be employed when certain regions or surfaces are preferred not to be metallized. The enclosure is thereby provided with walls having a polymeric substrate provided on desired surfaces with a vacuum metallized layer. The vacuum metallized layers are of sufficient thickness to make the surfaces of the enclosure electrically conductive. The enclosure is formed in the shape and size necessary to house and shield the EMI emitter; for example in the case of a personal computer, the enclosure may serve as a thin-walled case within the rigid outer housing of the computer. Alternatively, the enclosure may be formed to fit as an insert within a device""s housing as a substitute for a metal insert shield, or the enclosure may be shaped and sized to contain only certain components which are emitters of, or susceptible to, EMI. Gangs of metallized enclosures may be devised with electrical isolation as desired provided by gaps in the metallization layers. Different electronic devices will require varying degrees of attenuation or shielding effectiveness. The enclosure may be coated on all surfaces or selectively coated for certain applications.
Thermoformed shapes have previously been vacuum metallized with thin-film coatings (350 to 1000 angstroms or 0.035 to 0.10 microns) but only for their reflective metallic appearance. Conventional thin-film vacuum metallizing is not adequate to dissipate EMI. Existing equipment for metallizing thermoformed shapes for ornamental reflective appearance purposes is not suitable for application of relatively thick thin film as is required to provide suitable surface impedance to allow effective EMI dissipation.
Many polymeric materials are thermoformable. Formability, thickness, melt strength, shrinkage, flame retardency, and other properties are factors determined by the end user of the finished product. Extruded roll or sheet materials suitable for thermo forming include Acrylonitrile-Butenate-Styrene (ABS), polystyrenes, cellulose polymers, vinyl chloride polymers, polyamides, polycarbonates, polysulfones, and olefin polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PTG) and methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile (co-polymers).
Use of these polymers with additional fillers such as carbon black, graphite, and metal fibers, add to the shielding effectiveness for absorbing more of the lower electro-magnetic wave lengths.
The polymeric enclosures are not metallically; coated until after the thermoforming process. Because the forming process stretches or draws the material into corners and recesses, it would also draw or thin the metallic coating making its uniformity vary in different areas on the formed shape if coatings were applied prior to forming.
After forming, metallic coatings may be applied to the shapes by a variety of vacuum deposition techniques such as thermal evaporation, cathode sputtering, ion plating, electron beam, cathodic-arc, or vacuum thermal spray.
Because a thermoformed enclosure is used, the shield is of reduced weight and if damage occurs to the thermoformed shield during manufacturing or repair of the electronic device, a less costly replacement item is needed.
The use of interlockable enclosure bodies which may snap together or otherwise be mechanically held in assembled state, permits the walls of the shield to be in conductive contact and reduces or eliminates the need for conductive tape or conductive gaskets while providing an effective EMI shield. Further securing means may be employed, such as by use of conductive adhesive, laser welding, or heat sealing.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an EMI shield which may be thermoformed into a desired shape with metallization applied on all surfaces of the shield.
It is another object of the invention to provide an EMI shield which provides an easy-to-manufacture shield with excellent attenuation of the strength of electric or magnetic fields.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive EMI shield that will not be totally degraded by a scratch on one surface of the shield.
Another object of the invention is to provide an EMI shield which is light weight.
Another object of the invention is to provide an EMI shield which may be nested for shipment.
Another object of the invention is to provide an EMI shield with superior conductive wall coupling structure.
Another object of the invention is to provide an EMI shield which will not need application of conductive tape or gaskets to provide adequate shielding.
Another object of the invention is to provide an EMI shield which increases resistance of the shielded components to corrosive atmospheric conditions.
These and other objects of the invention will become understood from a review of the detailed description of the invention which follows.

Electromagnetic interference shield for electronic devices


Method and apparatus for providing a user customizable help system for a data processing environment which utilizes a graphical interface to identify solutions and/or topics of interest. This graphical help system displays partitioned groupings of help topics organized in a intuitively functional, positional manner such that a user will instinctively know where to find the desired help topic. These partitioned groupings of help topics preferably represent hardware platforms, operating environments, application groupings, or groupings of functions within an application. Further, and within each of the partitioned groupings, the invention contemplates providing multiple xe2x80x9cviewsxe2x80x9d of help topics, each xe2x80x9cviewxe2x80x9d corresponding to a different type of user of the data processing system. By providing multiple views, the help system can be easily tailored to better address differences in experience, sophistication, and job requirements between widely disparate users of the same data processing system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to data processing systems, and more particularly to data processing systems having user assistance resources.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to provide documentation for the purpose of permitting a user to operate a data processing system. With the earliest data processing systems, this documentation often took the form of user manuals that described the operation and utilization of the corresponding data processing system. While proving somewhat useful, a large set of hard copy manuals for a complete computer and set of corresponding applications are often quite voluminous, making the task of finding a solution to even a simple question difficult. Further, hard copy manuals typically require a large amount of physical space, are expensive to buy, and demand significant human resource to maintain and keep current.
As systems were designed to be more interactive, it became common to provide user documentation within the data processing system hardware and software itself. A first step in this evolutionary process was to simply provide electronic versions of the previously available hard copy manuals. The electronic manuals were typically divided into groups including those that were dedicated to the computer system itself (hardware manuals), those that were dedicated to the computer operating system (systems manuals), and those that were dedicated to the application programs (application manuals). Providing the manuals in electronic form addresses some of the problems of the earlier hard copy manuals, including reducing acquisition and maintenance costs and allowing users in remote locations to access the manuals directly via their computer system.
While these electronic user manuals provide some advantages over the hard copy manuals, a number of problems remain. Like the hard copy manuals, the electronic user manuals typically only included an index and a table of contents. Some limitations of the table of contents/index approach include: the user seeking help must know exactly what words or phrases to use when seeking help, and the list of available topics in the table of contents/index still may be very large, thus limiting the speed and precision with which a user is able to obtain the assistance the user seeks. Some electronic manuals include a keyword search capability, and more sophisticated electronic manuals include hyperlinks between related sectors.
The above problems are more acute when dealing with multi-platform computing environments. Today, multi-platform systems are widely in use. In such a system, a user""s application program may reside on one computer system, the user""s data may reside on another computer system, while the user may be running the application from yet a third computer system. A user at a personal workstation may not even know on which computer system their application is running, much less where to look for help information relating to the application.
Furthermore, today""s distributed, multi-platform computer systems can present unique problems of moving information between computer systems. User manuals for a particular computer system often do not contemplate the types of system-to-system configurations and interactions that multi-platform users face. Such interoperability issues are often completely outside the scope of all of the user documentation.
The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing a user customizable help system for a data processing environment which utilizes a graphical interface to identify solutions and/or topics of interest. This graphical help system displays partitioned groupings of help topics organized in a intuitively functional, positional manner such that a user will instinctively know where to find the desired help topic.
These partitioned groupings of help topics may represent hardware platforms, operating environments, application groupings, or groupings of functions within an application. Within each of the partitioned groupings, the invention contemplates providing multiple xe2x80x9cview typesxe2x80x9d of help topics. In an illustrative embodiment, xe2x80x9cview typesxe2x80x9d correspond to different types of users of the data processing system. It is contemplated that other embodiments of the xe2x80x9cview typexe2x80x9d concept might include view type groupings for data manipulation (printing, storage, and removal) or applications (middleware, tools and utilities). By providing multiple views, the help system can be easily tailored to better address differences in experience, sophistication, and job requirements between widely disparate users of the same data processing system.
In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, two xe2x80x9cviewxe2x80x9d selections are provided. The first selection corresponds to a xe2x80x9csystem viewxe2x80x9d and the second selection corresponds to a xe2x80x9cuser viewxe2x80x9d. The xe2x80x9csystem viewxe2x80x9d might be used by a computer system administrator or application developer, while the xe2x80x9cuser viewxe2x80x9d might be activated by a general user of the data processing system.
The xe2x80x9csystem viewxe2x80x9d of the illustrative embodiment preferably contains help topic pushbuttons that are graphically partitioned by groupings (such as computer hardware platforms, computer operating environments, sets of applications, or functions within a particular application) which will provide help on topics of specific interest to system administrators such as setting file access permissions, user passwords, or diagnostic utilities.
The xe2x80x9cuser viewxe2x80x9d preferably contains help topic pushbuttons that are graphically partitioned by groupings (such as computer hardware platforms, computer operating environments, sets of applications, or functions within a particular application) which will provide help on topics of specific interest to general system users such as using electronic mail, a database management system, a spreadsheet, or file transfer utilities. Thus, the present invention can be a carefully tailored, graphical alternative to a standard table of contents, allowing for a more intuitive approach to finding topics of interest for distinct classes of users.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a system and methodology for implementing user assistance functions for users of data processing systems having multiple computer operating environments is contemplated. Preferably, a user is presented with a one screen graphical overview of the entire data processing environment, logically partitioned into functional units. Within each functional unit, the help topics most relevant to the type of user requesting the help information are presented. As an example, the screen of help topics might be graphically partitioned into groups representing a OS 2200 environment, a UnixWare environment, a Windows NT environment, and a Personal Computer Workstation Windows 95 operating environment. This graphically tailored, partitioned approach to presentation of help topics is more intuitive than a text based table of contents approach. The system may also provide user assistance functions concerning interoperability of diverse applications, whether hosted on the same computer platform or hosted on different computer platforms.
In another illustrative embodiment, the help system has one or more screens of user selectable help topics. These help topics are graphically partitioned into two or more groups of topics corresponding to hardware platforms within the data processing system. As an example, the screen of help topics might be graphically partitioned into groups representing a UNISYS 2200 mainframe computer, a local file server computer, a desktop personal computer, and a laptop computer.
In another illustrative embodiment, the present invention graphically partitions one or more screens of user selectable help topics into groups of topics corresponding to sets of applications within the data processing system. As an example, the screen of help topics might be graphically partitioned into groups representing an office suite of applications such as Microsoft Office 97, or an internet toolkit containing applications such as a web browser, HTML toolkit, JAVA toolkit, and an E-mail application.
In yet another illustrative embodiment, the present invention groups one or more screens of user selectable help topics by functional blocks of a selected computer application. Preferably, the functional blocks are interrelated via a functional diagram. This functional diagram may include interconnections between the functional blocks which indicate topographical relationships between the functional blocks in the application. These topographical relationships may identify an ordered, positionally relevant set of functional topics, graphically displayed in such a manner that an application user may know intuitively where to seek help for an application subtask. An example of such a functional diagram might be Microsoft Excel, with functional blocks corresponding to importing/exporting files, worksheets, charts, file management, printing, and using macros. The help topic pushbuttons within the groupings provide access points to corresponding help information. The help information may reside in a dedicated help database, a universal help database, etc.

Graphical table of contents for a help system


The present invention provides for a valve assembly to include a cap which is removably secured to a spout of a water bottle. The cap further includes an aperture for receiving a hollow shank having an opened top and an opened bottom. A shaft is received in the opened bottom of the shank for permitting the shaft to slide freely and vertically within the shank. The shaft further includes at least one hole encompassing the side wall of the top area and a stop extending outwardly from an enclosed top. This stop contacts the opened top of the shank to maintain for the assembly to be in a closed position, accordingly, providing the hole to be covered by the shank. Located at the bottom of the shank is a first flange and located at the bottom of the shaft is a second flange. A locking ring is releasably attached to the shaft for maintaining the valve assembly to be in a closed position. In order to activate the valve assembly, the cap is attached to the spout of a bottle. The bottle is inverted onto the liquid dispensing device and the locking ring is released. This cause the shaft to move upward and extend beyond the open top of shank and exposes the hole, allowing the liquid to flow from the bottle and into the liquid dispensing apparatus. The movement of the shaft is stopped once the second flange on the shaft contacts the first flange of shank.

Bottled water is used in many situations. There are many areas, both in the United States and abroad, where the tap water is unfit for human consumption. In these areas the use of bottled water is a necessity. Even in areas where the tap is safe to consume, many people perceive a health benefit to the use of bottled water.
In the event of an industrial accident, people close to the accident site must turn to bottled water. With their regular drinking water source contaminated, bottled water for these people is a must. A similar situation arises when a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or a flood, knocks out the pumping station or water main.
The containers used to hold bottled water come in many sizes. A very popular container is the five gallon vessel. These five gallon bottles are found in small offices and businesses where a water fountain is not feasible. These bottles are also found in homes where the use of bottled water is significant.
In order to retrieve water from these five gallon bottles, a dispenser is typically used. The bottle is placed upside down, relative to the bottle's spout, into a receiving chamber within the dispenser. Once so placed, water can be liberated by the use of some faucet means. These bottle and dispenser means are a low cost and efficient way to dispense bottled water.
The above dispensing system is not without problems. In order to load a full bottle into the dispensing unit, one of two methods is typically employed.
A person can remove the bottle cap and then quickly turn the bottle upside down and insert the bottle into the dispensing unit. As the five gallon bottle weighs in excess of forty pounds, such a feat can prove dangerous. Quickly maneuvering such a heavy load can cause back strain or even a dropped bottle. Furthermore, such a maneuver will cause some of the water to spill either onto the person loading the bottle or onto the floor. The above results are all undesirable.
The second loading method is to, turn the bottle upside down and place the spout close to the dispensing unit. At that point, the bottle cap is removed and the bottle is lowered the final few inches into the dispenser. This method eliminates the hazards associated with a spill. However, if this method is being attempted by one person, that person must hold the bottle with one hand when removing the cap. Even a person of superior size and strength will find it difficult to hold such a large and heavy item with one hand. The potential for serious injury is strong.
What is needed is a bottle valve assembly whereby the bottle can be placed into the dispensing unit without water spill potential. Such an assembly must keep the bottle closed until it is safely secured in the dispensing unit. Once so secured, the valve will go into an open position permitting water flow.. Ideally such a cap should be inexpensive, easy to use, and reusable.

Valve assembly for a bottle used in a liquid dispensing apparatus


A semiconductor laser device includes a ridge waveguide having two side surfaces, a crystalline burying layer disposed at both side surfaces of the ridge waveguide, and a second conductivity type contact layer disposed on the burying layer and the ridge waveguide. The burying layer includes a first conductivity type first current blocking layer in contact with the side surfaces of the ridge waveguide, a second conductivity type second current blocking layer disposed on a portion of the first current blocking layer and separated from the ridge waveguide by a portion of the first current blocking layer near the ridge waveguide, a first conductivity type third current blocking layer disposed on a portion of the first current blocking layer near the ridge waveguide and on the second current blocking layer, and a second conductivity type final burying layer disposed on the third current blocking layer. In this structure, there is no pn junction at a regrowth interface between the final burying layer and the contact layer so that reduction in the forward voltage of the pn junction in continuous operation is avoided and increasing leakage current is suppressed so that the threshold current and light output of the laser do not deteriorate over time.

A conventional semiconductor laser device that includes a ridge waveguide, current blocking layers disposed on both sides of the ridge waveguide, and a contact layer, and a method of fabricating this semiconductor device are described below.
FIGS. 11(a)-11(e) are sectional views illustrating process steps in a method of fabricating the conventional semiconductor laser device. Initially, a p type InP first cladding layer 1, an InGaAsP active layer 2, and an n type InP second cladding layer 3 are successively epitaxially grown on a p type InP substrate. Then, an insulating film 4 comprising SiO is deposited on a center portion of the second cladding layer 3 and, using the insulating film as a mask, the first cladding layer 1, the active layer 2, and the second cladding layer 3 are selectively etched to form a ridge waveguide (figure 11(a)). In the step of FIG. 11(b), a p type InP first current blocking layer 12 having a high charge carrier concentration is selectively epitaxially grown on both sides of the ridge waveguide. Further, as shown in FIG. 11(c), an n type InP second current blocking layer 6 is selectively epitaxially grown on the p type InP first current blocking layer 12. In this growth step, the second current blocking layer 6 grows only on a specific crystalline plane of the first current blocking layer 12. Therefore, it is possible to form the n type InP second current blocking layer 6 so that it is not in contact with the side surface of the ridge waveguide. Then, a p type InP third current blocking layer 13 having a high charge carrier concentration is selectively epitaxially grown on the first and second current blocking layers to form a crystalline burying layer comprising the first, second, and third current blocking layers (FIG. 11(d)). In the step of FIG. 11(e), the insulating film 4 is removed. Finally, an n type InP contact layer 8 is epitaxially grown, followed by grinding at the rear surface of the substrate, and formation of an electrode 20a on the ground rear surface of the substrate and an electrode 20b on the n type InP contact layer 8, completing the semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 12.
In this semiconductor laser device, when a forward bias voltage is applied across the electrodes 20a and 20b, a current flows through the ridge waveguide comprising the n type InP second cladding layer 3, the active layer 2, and the p type InP first cladding layer 1, and holes from the p type InP first cladding layer 1 and electrons from the n type InP second cladding layer 3 are injected into the active layer 2. Radiative recombination of the electrons with the holes produces light in the active layer 2, resulting in laser oscillation.
In the fabrication method described, since the layers of the ridge waveguide and the burying layer are continuously epitaxially grown, no surface of the grown layers is exposed to air during growth. However, the p type InP first current blocking layer 12 is regrown on a side surface of the ridge waveguide that is exposed to air during etching, and the n type InP contact layer 8 is regrown on the upper surfaces of the burying layer and the ridge waveguide that have been exposed to air during the etching of the insulating film 4. The surfaces where regrowth occurs are called regrowth interfaces.
It is known that when the p-n junction between the p type InP first current blocking layer 12 and the n type InP second cladding layer 3 and the p-n junction between the p type InP third current blocking layer 13 and the n type InP contact layer 8 are located at regrowth interfaces, leakage current not passing through the active layer increases. Thus, the forward voltage at which a forward current starts to flow is reduced and the forward current across the p-n junction under continuous operation increases, causing deterioration of laser characteristics, such as a rise in the threshold current and a reduction in light output. In order to avoid this problem, Zn is employed as the dopant impurity in the p type InP first and third current blocking layers 12 and 13. These p type current blocking layers have significantly higher charge carrier concentrations than the n type cladding layer 3 and the n type contact layer 8. The Zn diffuses from the p type current blocking layers 12 and 13 into the n type cladding layer 3 and the n type contact layer 8 during the epitaxial growth process or during heat treatment after the epitaxial growth process, reversing the conductivity type of a thin portion of the n type cladding layer 3 and the n type contact layer 8 in contact with regrowth interfaces. Therefore, the p-n junction between the p type InP third current blocking layer 13 and the n type InP contact layer 8 is not located at the regrowth interface 9a of the upper portion of the burying layer shown in FIG. 12, but at a position 14a in the n type contact layer 8. The p-n junction between the p type InP first current blocking layer 12 and the n type InP second cladding layer 3 is not located at the regrowth interface 9b of the side surface of the n type cladding layer 3, but at a position 14b in the n type cladding layer 3. Consequently, the forward voltage of the p-n junction under continuous operation is not reduced and does not cause deterioration of laser characteristics.
Although deterioration of the laser characteristics under continuous operation can be prevented by diffusing Zn from the p type current blocking layers 12 and 13 into the n type cladding layer 3 and the n type contact layer 8, Zn diffuses not only into the n type cladding layer 3 and the n type contact layer 8, but also into the n type InP second current blocking layer 6. Zn compensates the dopant impurities of the n type second current blocking layer 6, whereby the charge carrier concentration of the n type current blocking layer 6 is reduced and the current blocking effect due to the p-n-p transistor effect is reduced. That compensation causes an increase in leakage current and deterioration of laser characteristics.


The present invention relates to a novel process for producing metal composites by internal oxidation.

Metal composites have been known for a long time and are employed in numerous fields. They include, for example, oxide-dispersed metals such as refractory metals provided with yttrium oxide for fine grain stabilization. In other fields, materials of this type based on silver have become established, particularly in the field of contact materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,842 describes silver-based materials which have been obtained by mixing of silver metal powder with powder composed of tin oxide and tellurium oxide and subsequent pressing and sintering. Materials of this type based on silver and tin oxide are well suited as contact materials.
In Holm Conferences on Electrical Contacts 1982, pages 77-85, Sakairi et al. describe a process for the internal oxidation of silver alloys. For the purposes of the present invention, internal oxidation is a process in which an alloy of silver with lesser noble metals is subjected to oxidizing conditions, which brings about oxidation of the less noble metals but not of silver. Silver-tin oxide materials containing finely divided tin oxide in amounts of from 9.3% by weight to 11.7% by weight and silver-cadmium oxide materials containing finely divided cadmium oxide in amounts of 12.4% by weight were obtained in this way. The materials had to be heat treated in order to make them processable. The internal oxidation was carried out for one week at 450° C. in a pure oxygen atmosphere at a gauge pressure of 9 atmospheres.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,413 discloses a silver-tin oxide contact material which contains oxides of tin, nickel and indium. The internal oxidation was carried out for 40 hours at 700° C. under a gauge pressure of 10 atm.
EP-A-508055 discloses silver-based contact materials which can be obtained by internal oxidation of alloys composed of 4-11% by weight of tin, 1-5% by weight of indium, from 0.05 to 4% by weight of tellurium and optionally 0.01-1% by weight of iron, nickel or cobalt and/or from 0.05 to 3% by weight of cadmium, balance silver. The internal oxidation is carried out in an oxidizing atmosphere at from 650° C. to 750° C. for from 8 to 26 hours.
All production processes by means of internal oxidation which have been described are carried out under superatmospheric pressure for a comparatively long time. It would therefore be desirable to make production at a relatively low pressure, for example atmospheric pressure (i.e. without employing superatmospheric pressure), possible. The present invention relates to providing a process for producing silver-based contact materials at a relatively low pressure without significantly impairing the advantageous properties of the materials.


A forming oil-in-water emulsion in the form of a cream comprising, in an aqueous medium, at least:

The present invention relates to forming oil-in-water emulsions in the form of a cream which are based on nonionic surfactants, a specific fatty phase and a crosslinked polymer comprising a cationic or anionic monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation. The present invention also relates to the use, in topical application, in particular in cosmetics and dermatology, of the disclosed foaming oil-in-water emulsions.
Foaming creams for cleansing the skin, which have a smooth feel, are generally in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion containing detergent surfactants and foaming agents. The oily phase makes it possible to soften the skin after rinsing. However, the oily phase has a tendency to inhibit the foaming properties of these formulations; it is said to xe2x80x9cbreakxe2x80x9d the foam. Consequently, the oily phase is introduced into foaming creams at low concentrations, generally of less than 5% by weight.
The surfactant systems used in foaming creams generally consist mainly of anionic surfactants. Despite their high foaming power and their good detergency, anionic surfactants have a certain irritant potential with regard to the skin and the eyes, and are incompatible with a large number of gelling agents.
In order to reduce this irritant potential, amphoteric surfactants and/or nonionic surfactants are combined with the anionic surfactants. In this regard, International patent application WO 93/02411 describes cleansing foaming compositions containing a surfactant system consisting of anionic surfactants combined with amphoteric surfactants in the presence of a water-insoluble oil and/or a wax.
A main object of the present invention is to be able to produce foaming creams based on an exclusively nonionic foaming surfactant system which may contain large amounts of oil without, however, jeopardizing the foaming power.
The prior art teaches that when compositions based on nonionic surfactants and oil are prepared, the foaming power of these compositions decreases when the proportion of oil is increased, relative to the surfactant system.
Such a teaching is illustrated, in particular, by European patent EP-617,954, which describes foaming cosmetic compositions comprising at least one nonionic surfactant of alkylpolyglucoside and/or polyglycerolated type and at least one crosslinked copolymer of maleic anhydride/alkyl vinyl ether and optionally an oil in very low proportions. This European patent document, however, does not describe foaming creams.
European patent EP-642,781 illustrates another aspect of this same principle by describing acidic non-foaming creams in the form of stable oil-in-water emulsions comprising a nonionic surfactant system, large amounts of oil and, as a stabilizer, crosslinked acrylamide/2-acrylamidopropanesulphonic acid copolymers. The compositions described in this patent are non-foaming.
Cosmetic compositions for cleansing the skin are moreover known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,681. These compositions are in the form of oil-in-water emulsions comprising a surfactant with an HLB of greater than or equal to 10, an oily phase comprising a poly(alpha-olefin) and a carboxylic copolymer containing from 95.9 to 98.8% by weight of a monoolefinically unsaturated monomer chosen from acrylic, methacrylic and ethacrylic acids, and from 1 to 3.5% of an arylic, methacrylic or ethacrylic acid ester with a C10-C30 alcohol. These compositions have the drawback of having a sticky feel, a runny appearance and elastic behavior. In addition, the foaming power of these compositions is insufficient. The compositions according to the present invention overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.
The Inventors have discovered, surprisingly, that the goal which they had set could be achieved by novel aqueous foaming compositions, in cream form, containing an exclusively nonionic surfactant system, a fatty phase having specific properties which will be defined below, it being possible for this fatty phase to be present in a large amount relative to the surfactant system, and a crosslinked polymer or copolymer of a cationic or anionic monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation.
The foaming creams in accordance with the invention are stable upon storage, have excellent foaming properties, are of better tolerance and harmlessness with respect to the skin and the eyes, i.e., are less irritating, when compared with the known foaming compositions and have good cosmetic properties when handled and to the touch.
In addition, the compositions of the invention may contain large amounts of oils which may be up to 6 to 10 times the amount of nonionic surfactants present in the formulation, without significantly affecting the foaming power or the stability of the compositions.
It is thus possible to introduce large amounts of care oil, i.e., any oil generally useful in the care of the skin and/or the hair, into such compositions and to obtain xe2x80x9ctwo-in-onexe2x80x9d foaming products.
The compositions according to the invention comprise, in a cosmetically acceptable aqueous medium, at least:
(a) from 5 to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of an exclusively nonionic surfactant system comprising at least one foaming nonionic surfactant;
(b) from 10 to 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of an oily phase comprising at least one water-insoluble oil, wherein said at least one water-insoluble oil has solubility parameters dD, dP and dH according to Hansen""s solubility space which satisfy the following conditions:
15.5 (J/cm3)xc2xdxe2x89xa6dDxe2x89xa618.0 (J/cm3)xc2xd
and
0 (J/cm3)xc2xdxe2x89xa6dAxe2x89xa66.5 (J/cm3)xc2xd
with
dA=(dP2+dH2)xc2xd;
and
(c) as a gelling agent, at least one crosslinked homopolymer or copolymer formed from at least one cationic or anionic monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation and from a crosslinking agent containing polyethylenic unsaturation; wherein said crosslinked copolymer does not comprise a copolymer containing a majority fraction of at least one olefinically unsaturated C3-C6 acid and a minority fraction of at least one ester of an olefinically unsaturated C3-C6 acid with a C10-C30 alcohol.
The compositions according to the invention preferably comprise, in a cosmetically acceptable aqueous medium:
(a) from 5 to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of an exclusively nonionic surfactant system comprising at least one foaming nonionic surfactant; and
(b) from 10 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of an oily phase comprising at least one water-insoluble oil whose solubility parameters are as defined above.
The foaming nonionic surfactants used according to the present invention are preferably chosen from nonionic surfactants having a foaming power preferably characterized by a foam height of more than 100 mm, more preferably characterized by a foam height of more than 120 mm, measured according to the Ross-Miles method for a 0.1% by weight solution of surfactant in distilled water at 25xc2x0 C.
The foaming nonionic surfactants used in the compositions according to the invention are more preferably chosen from:
(i) the compounds of formula (I):
xe2x80x83in which:
R represents aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or arylaliphatic radical or a mixture of radicals from 7 to 21 carbon atoms, it being possible for the aliphatic chains to be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched and to contain sulphur or oxygen atoms, in particular ether, thioether or hydroxymethylene groups;
n is any integer or fraction greater than 1 and less than or equal to 10 and denotes the average degree of polymerization;
(ii) the compounds of formula (II)
R1O(G)p
xe2x80x83in which R1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, G is a saccharide derivative containing from 5 to 6 carbon atoms and p is a statistical average value ranging and 1 to 6; and
(iii) mixture thereof.
The compounds of formula (I) are described in French Patent No. FR 2,091,516, the disclosure of which is incorporated specifically by reference herein. Compounds of formula (I) are obtained by polycondensation of an xcex1-diol containing a fatty chain onto the glycidyol.
Preferred compounds of formula (I) are those in which R represents an alkyl radical or a mixture of alkyl radicals containing from 9 to 12 atoms and n represents an average statictical value ranging from 3 to 4.
Dodecanediol polyglycerolated with 3.5 mol of glycerol, sold under the name CHIMEXANE NF by the company Chimex, is particularly used.
The compounds of formula (II) are described, in particular, in International patent application WO 94/27562, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. The preferred compounds are those for which the radical R1 is a C8-C16 alkyl radical, and even more preferred are those compounds whose degree of polymerization is equal to 1.4 or 1.6.
Examples of the compounds of formula (II) which may be mentioned are:
the alkylpolyglycosides marketed by Henkel under the names APG 225, APG 425 and APG 625;
the alkylpolyglucosides marketed by Henkel under the name GLUCOPON, similar to APG 625, but with a different degree of polymerization;
the alkylpolyglycosides marketed by Henkel under the name PLANTAREN, such as PLANTAREN 2000, which is a C8-C16-alkylpolyglucoside with a degree of polymerization of 1.4; PLANTAREN 1200, which is a C12-C18-alkylpolyglucoside with a degree of polymerization of 1.4; and PLANTAREN 1300, which is a C12-C18-alkylpolyglycoside with a degree of polymerization of 1.6.
The compositions according to the invention may also contain foaming silicone nonionic surfactants such as the polydimethylsiloxanes containing a polyoloside group, for instance SLM SPG 120 from the company Wacker or the polydimethylsiloxane derivatives containing alkylphosphobetaine groups, such as PECOSIL SPB-1240 from the company UCIB.
The definition of the solvents in the three-dimensional solubility space according to Hansen is described in the article by C. M. Hansen: xe2x80x9cThe three dimensional solubility parametersxe2x80x9d J. Paint Technol. 39, 105 (1967). Specifically:
dD characterizes the London dispersion forces derived from the formation of dipoles induced during molecular impacts;
dP characterizes the Debye forces of interaction between permanent dipoles;
dH characterizes the specific forces of interaction (of the type: hydrogen bonding, acid/base, donor/acceptor, etc.);
dA is determined by the equation:
dA=(dP+dH2)xc2xd
The parameters dD, dP, dH and dA are expressed in (J/cm3)xc2xd.
According to the present invention, the oily phase preferably comprises at least one oil such that 15.5xe2x89xa6dDxe2x89xa618.0 and 0xe2x89xa6dAxe2x89xa66.5. The parameters dD and dA more preferably satisfy the condition: 16.0xe2x89xa6dDxe2x89xa618.0 and 0xe2x89xa6dAxe2x89xa65.5.
Among the oils satisfying the inequalities 15.5xe2x89xa6dDxe2x89xa618.0 and 0xe2x89xa6dAxe2x89xa66.5, those which may preferably by mentioned, for example, as:
mineral oils such as liquid paraffin and liquid petrolatum;
oils of animal origin such as perhydrosqualene;
oils of plant origin such as jojoba oil, sesame oil, rapeseed oil, karite butter and the liquid fraction thereof; and
synthetic oils such as fatty esters, for instance purcellin oil, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, 2-octyldodecyl stearate, 2-octyldodecyl erucate, isosteryl isostearate, 2-octyldodecyl benzoate and hydrogenated isoparaffin (6-8 mol of isobutylene).
The oily phase of the compositions according to the invention may also contain other types of oils which do not satisfy the conditions of Hansen""s solubility parameters determined above, such as, for example, triglycerides of caprylic/capric acids, octyldodecanol, and isohexadecane.
These other oils, if present, are preferably present in the oily phase at concentrations of less than or equal to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the oily phase. The oily phase thus preferably comprises from 85 to 100% of oil corresponding to the conditions relating to parameters dD and dA defined above.
The crosslinked homopolymers or copolymers used in the compositions according to the invention preferably comprise at least one cationic or anionic monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation and a crosslinking agent containing polyethylenic unsaturation.
The anionic monomer is preferably chosen from (meth)acrylic acid, ammonium (meth)acrylate and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid, as well as their salts.
The cationic monomer is preferably chosen from dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylates, more preferably dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, and from dialkylaminoalkyhl(meth)acrylamides and quaternary salts or acids thereof, the alkyl radicals preferably being C1-C4.
The crosslinked copolymers according to the invention preferably comprise a nonionic comonomer chosen from methacrylamide, acylamide and C10-C30 esters of (meth)acrylic acid.
The crosslinking agents containing polyethylenic unsaturation are preferably chosen from divinylbenzene; tetraallyloxyethane; diallyl ether; polyallyl polyglyceryl ethers; allyl ethers of alcohols from the sugar series such as erythritol, pentaerythritol, arabitol, sorbitol or glucose; methylenebis(acrylamide); ethylene glycol di-(methyl)acrylate; di-(meth)acrylamide; cyanomethyl acrylate; vinyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate and metal salts of any of these compounds.
The sugars included in the sugar series, as referred to in the preceding paragraph, preferably comprise sugars containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, including monosaccharides such as fructose, glucose, galactose, xylose, mannose, lyxose, arabinose, and mixtures of these, and oligosaccharides such as maltose, xylobiose, isomallose, cellobiose, gentiobiose, lactose, sucrose, nigerose, turanose, faffinose, gentianose, melezitose, and mixtures of these.
The crosslinked homopolymers or copolymers in accordance with the invention are preferably chosen from:
(a) acrylic acid homopolymers crosslinked with an allyl ether of an alcohol from the sugar series, such as the products sold under the names CARBOPOLS 980, 981, 954, 2984 and 5984 by the company Goodrich or the products sold under the names SYNTHALEN M and SYNTHALEN K by the company 3 VSA;
(b) copolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid which is partially or totally neutralized (with a base such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or an amine) and of acrylamide, such as the product described in Example 1 of European patent application EP-A-503,853;
(c) ammonium acrylate homopolymers such as the product sold under the name MICROSAP PAS 5193 by the company Hoechst, or copolymers of ammonium acrylate and of acrylamide, such as the product sold under the name BOZEPOL C NOUVEAU, or the product PAS 5193 sold by the company Hoechst (which are described and prepared in French patent No. FR 2,416,723, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,798,053 and 2,923,692, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference);
(d) crosslinked homopolymers of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate quaternized with methyl chloride, such as the products sold under the names SALCARE 95 and SALCARE 96 by the company Allied Colloids, or the copolymers of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate which is quaternized with methyl chloride and of acrylamide, such as the product SALCARE SC92 sold by Allied Colloids, or the product PAS 5194 sold by Hoechst (which are described and prepared in European patent application EP-A-395,282, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference).
The crosslinked homopolymers or copolymers are present in the compositions of the invention at active material concentrations preferably ranging from 0.2 to 10% by weight, in particular from 0.8 to 8% by weight, and more particularly from 0.2 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
The composition according to the invention may also contain emulsifying nonionic surfactants such as oxyethylenated alkylphenols, such as the product sold under the name NIKKOLI HCO (oxyethylenated hydrogenated ricinoleic triglycerides (60 EO)) by the company Nikkol, or the product sold under the name SOLUBILISANT LRI (oxyethylenated butyl alcohol (26 EO)) with a mixture of oxyethylenated hydrogenated castor oil (40 EO) and water (54/36) by the company Wacker. They are preferably present at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2% by weight and more preferably from 0.5 to 1.5% by weight.
The compositions in accordance with the invention may also contain thickening agents which have a low flow threshold, namely agents which can flow under their own weight and which have a low gelling power. Examples which may be mentioned are natural gelling agents such as galactomannans, for instance guar and carob; carrageenans such as D-galactopyranose (product AUBYGUM X2 sold by the company Sanofi); sodium alginates (polymannuronate and guluronate); cellulose and derivatives thereof such as methylcellulose, propylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose; xanthan gums such as those consisting of D-glucose, D-mannose and D-glucuronic acid; fucose-rich polysaccharides such as the product FUCOGEL 1000 sold by the company Solabia.
The compositions according to the invention may also contain from synergists such as alkanolamides, for instance monoethanolamides and dialkanolamides; and more particularly monoisopropanolamides and diethanolamides; alkylamidodimethylamines; amine oxide derivatives such as alkyldimethylamine oxides, alkyldihydroxyethylamine oxides, alkylamidomethylamine oxides, alkylamidohydroxyethylamine oxides and alkylamidohydroxyethylamine oxides. They are preferably present in concentrations of less than or equal to 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
The compositions in accordance with the invention may also contain, in the oily phase, one or more lipophilic cosmetic and/or dermatological active agents such as, for example, anti-free-radical agents, ceramides, lipophilic formulation additives such as preserving agents, antioxidants and perfumed oils.
The compositions according to the invention may also contain, in the aqueous medium, hydrophilic cosmetic and/or dermatological active agents which are commonly used, such as polyols, for instance glycerol, 2,4,4xe2x80x2-trichloro-2xe2x80x2-hydroxydiphenyl ether, the monoethanolamine salt of 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-trimethylpentyl-2-pyridone (or piroctone olamine) such as the product OCTOPIROX sold by the company Hoechst, alpha-hydroxy acids, keratolytic agents such as urea, salicylic acid and derivatives thereof such as 5-n-octanoylsalicylic acid, antibacterial agents, antiseborrhoreic agents and antidandruff agents. The compositions according to the invention may contain standard formulation additives such as pigments, pearlescent agents, inorganic or organic fillers such as talc, kaolin, silica powder or polyethylene powder, and expanded thermoplastic hollow particles such as the product EXPANCEL 550 DE 20 sold by the company Nobel Casco.
The compositions according to the invention preferably have a viscosity ranging from 1.5 to 6 Pa s and more preferably ranging from 2.5 to 4 Pa s.
The compositions according to the invention, i.e., in cream form, produce sufficiently abundant foam on contact with water.
Another subject of the invention is of a cosmetic or dermatological composition for cleansing the skin, the mucous membranes, the hair or the scalp, comprising a foaming cream as defined above.
The foaming creams of the invention may be used as bases for products for the cleansing of/removal of make-up from the skin, the eyes and/or the face.
The foaming creams of the invention may also be used as bases for cleansing and care products for the hair or the scalp, such as two-in-one shampoos.
The foaming creams of the invention may also be used as bases for hygiene and care products for the skin and/or the body, such as two-in-one shower creams.
Another subject of the invention is directed to a process for cleansing the skin, the mucous membranes, the hair or the scalp, which comprises applying in the presence of water, to the skin, the mucous membranes, the hair or the scalp, a cosmetically effective amount of an oil-in-water emulsion as described above to obtain a foam; and removing, by rinsing with water, any foam or dirt residues from the skin, mucous membranes, hair or scalp.
Obviously, a person skilled in the art will take care to select the possible additional compound or compounds and/or the amounts thereof such that the advantageous properties intrinsically associated with the ternary combination in accordance with the invention are not damaged, or are not substantially damaged, by the addition or additions envisaged.
The examples which follow are intended to illustrate the invention without, however, limiting the scope thereof.

Foaming oil-in-water emulsion based on nonionic surfactants, a fatty phase and a crosslinked cationic or anionic polymer, and its use in topical applications

Abstract: a) from 5 to 20% of an exclusively nonionic surfactant system comprising at least one foaming nonionic surfactant;

Abstract: b) from 10 to 50% of an oily phase containing at least one water-insoluble oil whose solubility parameters dD, dP and dH according to Hansen""s solubility space satisfy the conditions:

Abstract: and

Abstract: with

Abstract: c) and, as a gelling agent, at least one crosslinked homopolymer or copolymer formed from at least one cationic or anionic monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation and from a crosslinking agent containing polyethylenic unsaturation. This composition is useful in cosmetics, dermatology and hygiene as a base for cleansing products for the skin, the hair, the mucous membranes and the scalp.


A DRAM capacitor is described that contains a BaSrTiO3 (BST) dielectric. The dielectric has a three-layer structure enabling the formation of a potential trough in which electrons can be permanently trapped.

The present invention relates to a DRAM memory capacitor having a dielectric which is disposed between two electrodes and contains BaSrTiO3 (BST) and to a method for producing such a DRAM memory capacitor.
As is known, BST is a xe2x80x9chigh-xcex5 materialxe2x80x9d which is regarded as being particularly promising for use as a dielectric for DRAM memory capacitors owing to its maximum possible electrical charge density, which is, for example, approximately ten times as great as that of silicon nitride. An additional advantageous feature of BST in this case is that its scaling with regard to the layer thickness and operating voltage is well below that for silicon nitride.
It is known from the reference by H. Reisinger et al., titled xe2x80x9cDielectric Breakdown, Reliability and Defect Density of (Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3(BST)xe2x80x9d, the VLSI Symposium 98, that the maximum density of the electrical charge on BST, and thus its minimum layer thickness for a given operating voltage is not limited by leakage currents but, in fact, by the electrical breakdown voltage and the life to breakdown and thus, in the end, by the reliability of the BST.
When configuring the life expectancy of a dielectric that is subject to electrical loads, the trapping of electrons plays a significant role. For example, it is known from the reference by, W. Hxc3x6nlein et al., titled xe2x80x9cONO Technologyxe2x80x9d, Applied Surface Science 39 (1989), pages 178-191, that electrons may be trapped as permanently as possible in ONO (oxide-nitride-oxide) structures with layer thicknesses of, for example, 5 nm, 8 nm, 5 nm which leads to a reduced current and thus to an increased life and to a lower defect rate as a consequence of a self-healing mechanism of weak points.
In the specialist world, the expression trapping of charge carriers is understood to be the trapping of charge carriers in a potential well or potential trough. The term is also used in this sense here.
The significance of trapping is now explained. Once a voltage has been applied to a BST layer via electrodes, electrons are trapped in this layer, resulting in the current decreasing as a function of time. Thus, owing to the reduced current, the trapped electrons have an advantageous effect on the life. However, if the polarity of the electrical voltage on the electrodes is reversed, the trapped electrons are xe2x80x9cdetrappedxe2x80x9d (or are released from the trapping points), which returns the layer to its original state once again, and increases the current. Continuous reversal of the voltage polarity on the electrodes, as is necessarily the case in a DRAM memory capacitor, thus leads to the life of this capacitor being considerably shortened.
Finally, it is known from the reference by F. Tcheliebon et al., titled xe2x80x9cOn the Microstructure and Optical Properties of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 Filmsxe2x80x9d, Thin Solid Films 299 (1997) 14-17, that the band gap of BST is a function of the barium content.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a DRAM memory capacitor, and a method for its production, that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this general type, which has a BST dielectric and is distinguished by a long life.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitor. The capacitor includes two electrodes and a dielectric containing BaSrTiO3 (BST) disposed between the two electrodes. The dielectric is formed of at least three layers with a middle layer functioning as a potential well for trapping electrons.
In the case of the DRAM memory capacitor of the type mentioned initially, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the dielectric has at least three layers, with the middle layer representing a potential well for trapping electrons.
During operation of the memory capacitor, trapped charge carriers, in particular electrons, are held permanently in the potential well, that is to say in the middle layer, so that they are not released even if the memory capacitor polarity is reversed a number of times. In consequence, the life of the memory capacitor is considerably increased.
The potential well can be formed by the dielectric being in the form of a triple layer. However, n layers (nxe2x89xa74) may also be provided, instead of three layers. It is preferable for a triple layer to be symmetrical in its width/thickness direction. In this case, two outer layers may be composed of BaSrTiO3 and a middle layer may be composed of BaSrTiO3 with a proportion of Ba and/or Ti which is less than that in the outer layers. The potential well is thus produced by the variation of the Ba and/or Ti content of the middle layer with respect to the outer layers.
The triple layer may have a layer thickness of approximately 50 nm, with the individual layers having layer thicknesses of approximately 17 nm. However, in general, layer thicknesses of 5-30 nm are possible.
In the DRAM memory capacitor according to the invention and whose dielectric constant xcex5 (200 less than xcex5 less than 500) is only slightly dependent on Ba/Sr and/or Ti, the thickness equivalent to silicon dioxide is only a few Angstrxc3x6m (xc3x85).
Pt, for example, may be used for the electrodes of the memory capacitor. However, other materials are also possible.
The method according to the invention for producing the DRAM memory capacitor is distinguished in that the dielectric is produced by CVD (deposition from the gas phase) or by sputtering, and in that once each layer has been deposited, a heat treatment in the form of a tempering or annealing step is carried out in oxygen (O2). Thus, for example, Ba/Sr and/or Ti contents of the precursors are changed during CVD, while the target is switched over during sputtering. This allows the desired change in the layer stoichiometry to be produced in a simple manner.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a DRAM memory capacitor, and a method for its production, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

DRAM memory capacitor having three-layer dielectric, and method for its production


A microscope apparatus has an illumination optical system illuminating a sample with laser light from laser light sources. A fluorescence detection optical system detects fluorescence from the sample. Fluorescence cubes are interchangeably provided in an optical path of the illumination optical system and lead the laser light to the sample. An objective lens is also provided. At least one of the fluorescence cubes includes an optical member that makes a principal ray of the laser light substantially parallel to an optical axis of the illumination optical system and concentrates the laser light on a given position that is on a pupil position of the objective lens and separated from the optical axis, thereby providing a microscope apparatus capable of changing from a confocal microscope to a total-internal-reflection fluorescence microscope by exchanging a fluorescence cube used in the fluorescence microscope.

A confocal microscope and a total-internal-reflection fluorescence microscope are widely used for observing living cells, and commonly use a laser light source. There has been proposed a microscope that can be commonly used for a confocal microscope and a total-internal-reflection fluorescence microscope (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-121796).
However, in the conventional microscope, upon changing a confocal microscope to a total-internal-reflection fluorescence microscope, an optical member for converging laser light to a total-internal-reflection condition area on a pupil position of an objective lens has to be inserted to an illumination optical system. Accordingly, a large exchanging mechanism is necessary, so that the microscope becomes large and expensive.

Microscope apparatus with fluorescence cube for total-internal-reflection fluorescence microscopy


A method of monitoring a power factor correcting (PFC) power supply is provided. The method includes: powering on the PFC power supply with a constant current; starting a runtime counter that increments a count value; measuring an output voltage; calculating an output power by multiplying the constant current by the output voltage; storing the output power in a random-access memory (RAM); calculating an input power by multiplying the output power by an efficiency curve factor; and storing the input power in the RAM.

Some related art methods of taking digital power measurements use non-rectified input current and input voltage. The directly measured signals are then converted from analog to digital, allowing a microprocessor to calculate average power using root-mean-square current and voltage.
Other related art methods use primary side input power which can be measured for power factor correcting (PFC) power supplies. Rectified input voltage and current to the PFC stage are measured using a current sensor and voltage sensor. A correction factor is applied to compensate for any phase shift introduced by current sensing.
Still other related art methods use the input power of a power factor correcting power supply, which can be measured, by monitoring only the output current of the power supply at a known output voltage level. A look up table or correction factor is applied, using previously known operating parameters, to extrapolate the input power. Output power is divided by the known efficiency value of the input section.

Method for measuring power factor correcting (PFC) power supply input power using a single secondary side measurement with periodic usage metrics


A voice coil type linear motor controls the movement and positioning of a transducer which cooperates with a spinning disk. The motor is feedback controlled for separate speed (seek) and positioning modes in which respectively the transducer is moved across the disk towards a different track and is held centered above that track. In order to offset the effect of a tilted axis of carriage movement, the control condition in the positioning mode representing a correct transducer position in which it is held by the motor, is continuously sampled and held during a period when the transducer is moved to another track to be applied as correction for the control moving the transducer towards another track. This correction signal is also used in the initial phases of holding the transducer above the newly selected track, until sampling and positioning control proper takes over.

The present invention relates to recording disk systems and more particularly, the invention relates to the control of positioning a transducer head precisely above any of the recording tracks of the disk in a disk drive.
Disk systems of the type to which the invention pertains are usually constructed with means for spinning a disk, e.g. a so-called "floppy" disk, about its axis. A transducer (or a pair of transducers) is mounted on a suitable mount constructed as a slide carriage or the like which is positioned by a solenoid, commonly referred to in this art as a voice coil motor. The motor is under specific control for positioning the transducer. This control involves usually two modes, operated under different conditions. In one mode, called a seek operation, the motor moves the transducer and carriage from one track to another one. This control operation may be carried out to cause the carriage to move as fast as possible, accelerating over a portion of the distance to be traversed and decelerating for the remainder. In a simplified but slower version one may include a constant speed phase. The second or positioning mode servo controls the position of the transducer above the center of the track on which it records or which it reads.
For purposes of these controls, a position sensor is provided, e.g. in the form of an optical grating representing the track positions. A detector on the carriage scans these gratings and provides a signal representative thereof. This signal is basically oscillatory in nature (though the signal contour is usually triangular rather than sinusoidal). The number of excursions or pulses sensed in this manner by the grating scanner and detector during movement of the carriage represents the number of tracks being passes across by the transducer. These pulses are often called detent pulses. The number of detent pulses is made to agree with a number externally commanded to the controller for causing the transducer to change tracks. The latter number is sometimes referred to in disk technology as cylinder difference, and the command pulses are called cylinder pulses. The detent pulses and the cylinder pulses are the inputs for the speed control of the carriage to change its track positions. The signal contour of the detector output is used directly to servo the voice coil motor so that the transducer is and remains above the selected track. Within a limited range that position signal has directly the contour of an error signal.
The servo and speed control as described is well developed, and satisfactorily working circuits are well known and incorporated in disk drives on the market. This is particularly true with regard to large disk file units, using hard surface disks, usually assembled in a horizontally oriented stack with vertical axis, and the voice coil motor and carriage axis are oriented both horizontally and on or parallel to a radial line of the disk or disks. As far as the smaller, "floppy" disk types units are concerned, I discovered the following problem.
Usually, the disk in such a unit is vertically oriented, but the voice coil motor and carriage still move on a horizontal axis. That, however, is not always the case. For some reason or another, that axis may have a vertical component, i.e. the unit is tilted. The axis may even be oriented straight up or down. It follows that the resulting force acting on the movable coil in the motor and being combined with and connected to the carriage, differs with that orientation, all other parameters remaining the same. Thus, if the control circuit for the two modes above is designed and rated to energize the motor in a particular manner, the different situations represented by different position and speed inputs will produce a definite behavior and response of the coil carriage combination only for a particular axis orientation. If the axis is differently oriented, a different gravity component will be superimposed modifying the control conditions for the carriage. Consequently, the servo conditions and particularly the accuracy and tolerances in the positioning of the transducer differ, they depend on the amount of tilt. Of course, one could trim adjust each such unit and calibrate it on the basis of the expected tilt. However, that tilt may be unforeseen at times and even vary. Moreover, such individual calibration is quite cumbersome. Recalibrating for every tilt change is outright impractical and even impossible.