Novel hydrophobic composites, particularly hydrophobic particulates and free-flowing hydrophobic aggregates and methods utilizing same are disclosed.

The present invention relates to hydrophobic composites, particulates and free-flowing aggregates, methods of producing same, and applications thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to hydrophobic composites having a core material coated by a hydrophobic powder having an impure element pre-treated with a hydrophobic hydrocarbon, and optionally with additional coating agents, such that the resulting composites are characterized by superior water-repellency and durability, suitable for various applications. The present invention further related to hydrophobic composites that are prepared in aqueous solutions.
In many applications it is desired to prevent moisture from reaching critical regions using hydrophobic materials which repel water. In the area of civil engineering, when water percolate into construction, salts and minerals present in the water damage the concrete (or other materials from which the construction is made), and causes corrosion and deformation to its reinforcing steel bars or wire fabric. Such corrosion and deformation leads to the appearance of cracks in the concrete and, eventually, to a local reduction of construction strength. Other internal objects, such as pipes, electrical wires, communication channels and the like may also be damage by moisture.
The presence of water in the house is associated with numerous of unpleasant evidences such as, moisture at the base of the walls, under carpeting or under floor tiles; rust at the base of steel posts; stains, discoloration or decay of wood, paneling, drywall and other objects close to the floor, walls or ceiling; molds and mildew on concrete, furnishings or carpets; efflorescence ("white powder") on the concrete; peeled floor tiles; damp odor; "sweating" walls (condensation of excessive humidity); condensation of water on windows; plugged or damaged rain gutters; growth of moss and the like.
Moisture may percolate into the construction, either vertically, for example because of accumulation of water on roofs or floors of construction/foundations, or horizontally, by leakage of water through external walls of a building for example, because of extreme weather conditions. A sever problem of horizontal leakage is in buried walls or portions thereof, where hydrostatic pressure generated by excess moisture in the surrounding soil pushing in on the outside of the foundation wall, significantly contributes to horizontal leakage.
The percolation of moisture through concrete walls is explained by the porosity of the concrete (about 12%-20%), formed during the curing process when surplus water creates a network of interconnected capillaries, about 10-100 nm in diameter.
As used herein, the term about refers to ±10%.
These capillaries contribute to the percolation of moisture there through via capillary forces. As the concrete ages, the water percolation, gradually leaches out the concrete and makes it more and more porous.
Another problem caused by moisture is mildew, which, apart from being unaesthetic, creates a musty odor. Even though a substantial amount of standing water may be removed by prior art waterproofing methods that utilize a drainage conduit, residual moisture will still cause mildew problems. It is recognized that a prolonged exposure to mildew may cause many health problems, such as, allergies, asthma, skin diseases and the like.
Basement is by far the largest source of moisture in a house. Covered floor and walls in the finished basement trap moisture and eventually cause damp or wet basement. As the pH level of the concrete is high, the alkalis present in the concrete dissolved by the water and attack paints and floor tiles. Hence, even if the basement looks dry, moisture is pouring in by seeping through capillaries. The mildew, which is typically initiated in the basement due to its excessive amount of moisture, may spread to other areas of the house above ground, e.g., by ventilation.
In many countries sand is used as a bed under the floor tiles and is recommended by standards in order to reduce noise. Water, originating from periodic cleaning pluming leakage or heavy rain (e.g., in tiled roofs) generate a substantial amount of excessive weight, up to approximately 100 Kilograms of water per square meter. Large portion of the water is trapped under the tiles and the sand thus remains wet for many years. Such excessive weight is typically taken under consideration by the engineer in the planning stages of the building, which, in order to increase the strength to the construction, uses more concrete and reinforcing material under the sand bed. The contribution of the water and construction extra strengthening to the overall weight accelerates the sinking of the building. The problem is only aggravated in hanging structures such as balconies and overpasses, interconnecting different parts of buildings.
In addition to its excessive weight, the wet sand under the tiles attracts insects, such as ants, warms, aphids, dust mites and the like. Apart from the recognised health problems associated with such attraction, the insects excavate through the sand and accelerate sinking of the tiles.
Being wet most of the time, the sand under the floor tiles becomes a thermal conductor, thus reducing any isolation pretended to be achieved in the design stages of the building. In some buildings, an electrical heating system is constructed under the floor. The contact between these systems and the wet sand may cause a sever damage to the system, or, in extreme cases, even fire may occur.
With respect to under floor waterproofing of balconies or tiled roofs, all prior art methods are directed at positioning a waterproofing material such as a sealing sheet, a bituminous membrane or a solvent based elastomeric coat, under the bed sand supporting the floor tiles. However, almost irrespectively of their quality, the life time of these waterproofing materials is not sufficient, because of the salts containing moisture being present in the sand.
Even in constructions or part of constructions where sand is not in contact with the waterproofing material, the life time of prior art materials is limited. Alkalis dissolved in the water attack paints and adhesives and damage the waterproofing material, by formation of cracks, peels or blisters.
An additional indoors problem related to sealing means is the problem of elevated levels of Radon gas which may be found in houses, typically, but not exclusively, in the lower parts thereof, e.g., basements. Radon is an invisible and odourless radioactive gas, produced by the decay of radioactive heavy metals uranium and thorium, dispersed throughout the Earth's crust. The by-products of the radioactive decay of these metals are lighter radioactive heavy metals which also decay into lighter metals and so on. The decay chain continuously produces radium, which decays into radon isotopes, mainly Radon-222 and Radon-220 (the latter also known as Thoron), where the Radon-222 isotope is the most common indoors radioactive gas.
Radon decay products are tiny radioactive solid particles which float in the air and, breathed by human, get trapped in the lungs, trachea and bronchi. Because of these decay products, the Radon, at the levels common in homes, is about 1,000 times more lethal than the safety limits on any other toxin or carcinogen.
Being the heaviest known gas (nine times heavier than air), the Radon gas naturally moves into the permeable soil and the gravel bed surrounding the foundations of the house and subsequently diffusively penetrates into the house through the above mentioned openings and pores in concrete. Radon is soluble in water and therefore carried to the vicinity of the house by underground streams, and further into the house by the percolation of water, e.g., through the concrete. The most common carrier of Radon into the house is water.
Moisture and water also cause damage to buried objects, such as underground pipes, storage tanks (e.g., gas tanks), tunnels and cables. Due to moisture, corrosion caused by electrolysis, digesting materials, insects and/or micro organisms present in the sand, many buried objects are exposed to damaging processes which reduce the lifetime of the objects. In cases where the buried object contains hazardous materials any leakage there from may have severe environmental consequences.
In the area of electric power industry, numerous research programs have been conducted to identify mechanisms which are responsible for the premature failure of underground electrical or communication cables. It is recognized that many of the premature cable failures are linked to internal build-up of micro sized water branches within imperfections of the insulating layers of the cable, also known as "water trees." The water filled imperfections branch radially inward through the amorphous insulating materials. As the water progresses radially inward the potential for cable failure increases.
Even when the conducting core of the cable is coated by a sophisticated material such as a liquid crystal polymer, the formation of imperfections is inevitable due to corrosion caused by electrolysis, digesting materials, insects and/or micro organisms present underground.
Buried pipes and electrical or communication channels are often positioned inside hollow underground tubes. The hollow tubes also ease access to the buried object, for maintenance purposes. However, water or other liquids occasionally find the way into the space between the buried object and the internal surface of the surrounding tube (e.g., through holes or cracks formed in the external surfaces of the tubes, or through the gap between contacting tubes). The water flows through the tube and causes damages to the buried objects or to connection boxes at the end of the tube.
The combination of moisture and sand tends to harden or freeze. The formed hard material is known to transform axial stresses from the surrounding environment to the buried object. When the level of the axial stresses exceeds the object's characteristic strength, the object is damaged. To prevent the above axial stresses, the objects are made stronger and/or being buried deep into the ground. It is recognized, however, that the cost of positioning objects underground increases with the depth in which these objects are to be buried. Moreover, deep buried objects are difficult to be accessed, e.g., for maintenance or replacement.
One way to protect an underground object tube is by applying a sealing coat on the object or its surrounding tube, so as to prevent the above agents from damaging its external surface. However, although in general such coats survive the attack of digesting materials or organisms, very often local damages to the coat are inevitable (for example due to axial stresses), which local damages are sufficient to initiate the erosion of the object.
Generally, moisture can be prevented from reaching critical regions by the use of hydrophobic materials which repel water. Design considerations for hydrophobic materials depend on the application for which such materials are designated, and include water intrusion pressure, thickness, chemical compatibility, airflow, temperature compatibility and the like. Water intrusion pressure is a measure of a critical pressure under which water are forced through the hydrophobic material. Chemical compatibility is important in applications where the hydrophobic material comes in contact with corrosive material.
Another structure for which waterproofing is required is a water reservoir, where the base and the walls thereof need to be impermeable so as to prevent water from leaking out. The problem of leaking reservoir is crucial in arid regions where one desire to maintain the content of the reservoir for as much as time possible.
A typical reservoir is a flat area surrounded by a sloping embankment. In many prior art waterproofing methods, the bottom of the reservoir (both the flat base and the sloping embankment) are covered with sealing sheets (typically made of high density polyethylene, HDPE), adhered or welded to each other. This method suffers from many drawbacks. First, because the waterproofing is by a plurality of bonded sealing sheets, there are many areas near the connection between two adjacent sheets where the bonding is damaged or not perfect, and the sheets become permeable. Second, due to its limited elasticity, the sealing sheet tends to be damaged by hard objects, being in contact therewith either from above or from below. Third, during maintenance, when the bottom of the reservoir is cleaned by light machinery or manually, the sealing sheets may be ruptured. Forth, forces induce earth movements or cracks formation (e.g., in a man made concrete reservoir) rupture the sealing sheets. An additional limitation of prior art method is originated by colonies of insects and organisms present under the sealing sheets. In which case purification chemicals are required to purify the content of the reservoir.
Waterproofing is often required also in agriculture or gardening where irrigation is employed. When an area is artificially irrigated by water, only a relatively small portion of water reach the plants growing on the soil. Most of the water seeps through the earth or evaporates. The need to save water is also related to other agricultural problems, such as salty soil and underground salty water. Generally, when designing an area for gardening or for industrial agriculture use, it is difficult to provide the plant a sufficient amount of water without causing rottenness, while, at the same time, preventing hazardous materials (such as salts) from damaging the roots.
Design considerations for hydrophobic materials to be used for waterproofing any of the above structures include water intrusion pressure, thickness, chemical compatibility, airflow, temperature compatibility and the like. Water intrusion pressure is a measure of a critical pressure under which water are forced through the hydrophobic material. Chemical compatibility is important in applications where the hydrophobic material comes in contact with corrosive material.
Over the years, numerous hydrophobic materials have been developed, including PTFE, nylon, glass fibers, polyethersulfone and aggregates having hydrophobic properties.
One such material is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,562,153, to Tully et al. The oil absorbent compositions of the Tully et al. patent are obtained by treating a liquid absorbent material, which may be particulate, granular or fibrous in nature, with a colloidal metal or metalloid oxide which is chemically bonded to an organosilicon compound to render the metal or metalloid oxide hydrophobic. The hydrophobic oxide-treated absorbent composition is contacted with the oil-contaminated water and selectively removes the oil therefrom. The oil absorbent composition of Tully et al. is reported to have excellent water repellency, thus enabling it to maintain its oil absorbent efficiency for long immersion periods.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,852, to Craig, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, combines ideas of several prior art patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,567,492, 3,672,945, 3,973,510, 3,980,566, 4,148,941 and 4,256,501, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference). According to Craig, hydrophobic composites having superior water repellency are obtainable by depositing on a particulate and granular core material an adherent first coat which comprises a film-forming polyurethane and asphalt, as an optional additive, and applying to the thus coated core material a second coat comprising a hydrophobic colloidal oxide such as, for example, hydrophobic fumed silica. Craig teaches that the adherent first coat should not exceed 1 weight percentage of the total dry aggregate weight while the second coat is between 0.025 and 0.25 weight percentage of this total weight. Further according to the teachings of Craig, hydrophobic composites prepared in this manner not only prevent water from adhering to the surfaces of the individual composite particles, but also from entering the interstitial spaces of the aggregates of the composites.
WO 03/044124, which is also incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, also discloses a method of preparing hydrophobic aggregates, which is based on the teachings of Craig (U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,852). According to the teachings of WO 03/044124, the hydrophobic aggregates disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,852 are not satisfactory as they do not withstand water pressure higher than 2-3 centimeters.
In a search for a method of producing hydrophobic aggregates with improved water-repellency and oil absorbency performance and improved durability under higher water pressures, it was concluded, according to the teachings of WO 03/044124, that an improved method of preparing hydrophobic aggregates, as compared with the teachings of Craig, should include changes relating to the compositions of the first and second coat and the relative amounts thereof, to the temperature in the various process steps and to the mixing rate during the course of preparation.
Hence, the method disclosed in WO 03/044124 includes depositing on a particulate or granulate core material an adherent first coat which comprises a film-forming agent such as polyurethane and optionally a gluing agent such as liquid asphalt, and applying to the thus coated core material a second coat which comprises a hydrophobic fumed silicate or any other superhydrophobic powder. According to the teachings of WO 03/044124, the adherent first coat constitutes about 1-2 weight percentages of the total dry aggregate weight while the second coat constitutes more than 5 weight percentages of this total weight. Further according to the teachings of WO 03/044124, such hydrophobic aggregate is capable of holding a water pressure of up to 20-30 cm.
Although WO 03/044124 teaches the use of superhydrophobic powders other than hydrophobic fumed silica, this reference neither specifies nor exemplifies such a superhydrophobic powder. This reference also fails to demonstrate any performance of the hydrophobic aggregates disclosed therein with regard to both, water repellency and its behavior under high water pressures. Furthermore, it is well known in the art that using such a large amount of hydrophobic fumed silica as the second coat, as taught by WO 03/044124, reduces the cost-effectiveness as well as the simplicity of the process.
In addition, as hydrophobic fumed silica, as well as other metal oxides treated with organosilicon compounds, such as those disclosed in the Craig patent, are characterized as acidic substances, aggregates coated by such materials are susceptible to reactions with alkaline reagents such as detergents. This feature limits the use of such aggregates in applications where detergents may be in contact with the hydrophobic aggregates, such as, for example, top-coatings of various surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,852 mentioned hereinabove describes several applications for its hydrophobic composites in waterproofing applications. Mainly as a top coat on paved surfaces, such as asphalt or concrete, a flood coat of asphalt sealer should first be applied over the surface, immediately after which a heavy coat of the hydrophobic composites may be sprayed over and rolled into the asphalt sealer, providing a watertight top coat. The same top coating technique may be used in pothole repairs in roadways.
The composites may also be used as a substitute for common aggregate in asphalt roofing or shingles, or in built-up roofing. In such applications, the hydrophobic composites are effective in preventing water penetration and resulting damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles as well as dimensional changes due to wetting and drying. U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,852 also claims utility as a top coat on paved surfaces, such as asphalt or concrete road surfaces or bridge decking, providing a water-tight finish, which substantially reduces freeze-thaw damage, and which is unaffected by salt compositions normally used for ice removal. In addition, these hydrophobic composites may be applied to painted surfaces to provide a durable, waterproof finish over wood, metal, concrete, stone, brick and certain synthetic substrates. Such hydrophobic composites may also be blended with suitable binding agents to provide a water-repellent coat.
As the American Concrete Institute (ACI) recommends a 3-inch pervious sand bed spread on top of waterproofing sheet under the building, the hydrophobic composite of U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,852 may also be used as a waterproofing agent in pavement construction, as a fill or bed material under concrete slabs or as a gravel fill or ballast for road beds or sidewalks. However, as will be appreciate by a skilled artisan, free-flowing aggregate are made of extremely small particulates hence being easily carried in the wind and washed out by running water. Therefore, without specific and enabling instructions, it would be very difficult and probably not practical to use the hydrophobic aggregate in its flowing form.
Furthermore, presently known methods of producing hydrophobic composites do not result in satisfactory products and are limited by other parameters, such as, for example, cost effectiveness.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have hydrophobic composites, particulates and free-flowing aggregates, methods of producing same and applications thereof, devoid the above limitations.

Hydrophobic composites and particulates and applications thereof


A shifter rod assembly used in automotive vehicles extends between a manual shifter assembly having a manual shift lever and a transmission spaced from the manual shift lever. Large tolerance universal joints with play between the components thereof connect the shifter rod assembly to the manual shifter assembly and to the transmission. In order to eliminate rattle noise in the universal joints, the universal joints are each encased in a layer of elastomer. A preferred elastomer is silicone elastomer can be applied in liquid form, cures at room temperature and maintains integrity at temperatures in a range of about 200° F. to 240° F.

Typically, automotive vehicles include a powertrain comprising an engine which is coupled by a clutch to a transmission that is in turn connected to road wheels. To select gear ratios, the gears of manual transmissions are axially shifted and rotated by a lever in the passenger compartment. When the transmission is not positioned adjacent to the person driving the vehicle, it is necessary to connect the shift lever to the transmission with a linkage. In some automotive vehicles, the transmission is positioned proximate the rear road wheels, while the engine is disposed adjacent to the front road wheels. Since in this arrangement the transmission is behind the driver, there is a need for a shifter rod assembly which transmits shift lever positions back to the transmission. This involves axial pushing, pulling, and rotation of the shifter rod assembly. Moreover, an actuator shaft extending transversely from the shift lever is not aligned with the far end of shifter rod assembly. Consequently, the shifter rod assembly has parts which move relative to one another during shifting to accommodate axial misalignment. In accordance with one arrangement, this misalignment is accommodated by universal joints positioned at opposite ends of the shifter rod assembly.
When an automotive component such as a universal joint is assembled with parts which move relative to one another, the cost of the assembly becomes a consideration because there is a tendency to decrease tolerances in order to minimize vibration. Decreasing tolerances requires increasing machining expenses. Consequently, there is a need to minimize vibration of shifter rod assemblies having universal joints without substantially increasing cost.

Shifter rod assemblies for automotive transmissions


The invention provides a semiconductor device equipped with a high-voltage MISFET capable of forming a push-pull circuit on one chip by optimizing a junction-separation structure. In an n-channel MOSFET, when a potential is applied to the gate electrode, to the source electrode, and across the drain electrode and the semiconductor substrate to expand the depletion layer from the junction face of a semiconductor substrate and a well formed thereon, the leading edge of the depletion layer does not reach a low-concentration drain diffusion region formed on the well. When a potential is applied to the drain electrode, to the semiconductor substrate, and across the source electrode and the gate electrode to expand a depletion layer from the junction face of the low-concentration drain diffusion region and the well, and a depletion layer from the junction face of semiconductor substrate and the well, the depletion layers are connected with each other.

Semiconductor devices equipped with a high-voltage MISFET for use in the area of power electronics require a voltage breakdown performance of about 100V or higher. Various voltage breakdown structures have been proposed. One representative MISFET with a voltage breakdown structure is shown in FIG. 7. In this figure, the numeral 41 represents a p-channel type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor MOSFET, the surface of an n.sup.- -type semiconductor substrate 42 with a p.sup.- -type low concentration drain diffusion 43a, a drain region 43 equipped with a p.sup.+ -type high concentration drain diffusion region 43b as an ohmic contact, a p.sup.+ -type source diffusion region 44, and a gate layer 46 formed on a gate oxide film 45. A field oxide film 47 on the surface of the low concentration drain diffusion region 43a has a thickness greater than the gate oxide film 45, and the boundary of the field oxide film 47 with the gate oxide film 45 forms a step. The gate layer 46 extends to directly above the low concentration drain diffusion region 43a beyond this step. This extended part functions as a field plate, thereby raising the voltage between the source and the drain. At the same time, the source diffusion region 44 has an n.sup.+ -type contact region 48 formed on its side, a source electrode 49 being electroconductively connected also to the n.sup.- -type semiconductor substrate 42. These arrangements prevent the occurrence of a latch-up phenomenon. In addition, a drain electrode 50 is electroconductively connected to the high concentration drain diffusion region 43b, and a gate electrode 51 is electroconductively connected to the gate layer 46. If the p-channel MOSFET 41 having this structure has the conductivity type of each part reversed, an n-channel MOSFET 61, as shown in FIG. 8, will result. In this figure, the structure of the n-channel MOSFET 61 is the same as that for the p-channel MOSFET 41, whereas each corresponding part is given the same numeral, and its explanation is omitted.
As described above, the MOSFETs shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are so structured so that they can resist the breakdown voltage between the source and drain and prevent a latch-up phenomenon. Therefore, a semiconductor device independently constructed using these MOSFETs will exhibit a stable operation. However, because those MOSFETs form MOS sections directly on the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor device has a problem in that it cannot meet the following requirement. That is, the circuitries have become more complex in recent years as the level of control has been elevated in the area of power electronics. As a result, a great burden has been imposed on system designs. Therefore, there have been attempts to reduce this burden by integrating MOSFETs with different conductivity types and control circuits into one chip. However, as long as the MOS section with a conductivity type corresponding to the substrate conductivity type is formed, it is not possible to form the p-channel MOSFET 41 shown in FIG. 7 and the n-channel MOSFET 61 shown in FIG. 8 on one substrate, so that the above requirement cannot be met, and a device incorporating a push-pull output and a bridge output in one chip cannot be realized.
Accordingly, one concept that eliminates the above problem calls for the adoption of a CMOS structure as in a low voltage MOSFET. However, in the high voltage MOSFET, it is necessary to have a structure that can handle a breakdown voltage at a level not influenced by the operating conditions in the semiconductor region formed on one substrate, as well as a structure that can withstand voltages in the lateral direction. Therefore, an insulation separating structure using embedded layers utilizing an epitaxial film-forming process has been considered but is not practical because of its excessive manufacturing costs. In view of the above problems, the present invention is intended to provide a semiconductor device equipped with both a high-voltage n-channel MISFET and high-voltage p-channel MISFET capable of creating a push-pull circuit in one chip by optimizing the separation structure in addition to adopting a junction separation structure as in the low-voltage MOSFET.

Semiconductor device equipped with a high-voltage MISFET


A filler for a dental resin composition is disclosed, comprising silica particles derived from a nanoparticulate silica sol, the filler material having at least one crystalline phase. The filler material provides improved wear resistance and other properties.

This invention relates to novel resins and filler materials for restorative dentistry. Depending on resin and filler content, the resins and fillers may be used as crown and bridge materials, either with or without an alloy substrate; or as reconstructive materials, bioprostheses, restorative materials, filling materials, inlays, onlays, laminate veneers, dental cements, dental adhesives and the like.
In recent years, materials used for dental restorations have comprised principally acrylate or methacrylate resins. Typical acrylate resinous materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,112 to Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,623 to Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,784 to Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,399 to Lee et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,906 to Lee et al. An especially important methacrylate monomer is the addition product of bisphenol A and glycidyl methacrylate, 2,2′-bis [4-(3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxy propoxy)-phenyl]-propane (hereinafter abbreviated "Bis-GMA"). Polyurethane dimethacrylates (hereinafter abbreviated PUDMA) are also commonly used principal monomers in dental restorative materials. Since Bis-GMA is highly viscous at room temperature, it is generally diluted with an acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a lower viscosity such as trimethylolpropyl trimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, and the like. Other dimethacrylate monomers, such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, are also in general use as diluents.
When these acrylic resinous materials were first developed, they were used for dental restorative purposes unfilled, that is, without the presence of any other organic or inorganic component. However, because acrylic materials exhibit high coefficients of thermal expansion relative to the coefficient of thermal expansion for the tooth structure, these unfilled substances proved to be less than satisfactory. The disparity in thermal expansion, coupled with high shrinkage upon polymerization, resulted in poor marginal adaptability and ultimately led to secondary decay. Furthermore, the wear and abrasion characteristics and the overall physical, mechanical, and optical properties of these unfilled acrylic resinous materials were quite poor. Composite dental restorative materials containing methacrylate resins and fillers were thus developed, the fillers generally comprising inorganic materials based on silica, silicate glass, or quartz. Particularly suitable improved inorganic filler materials include those disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,531 to Waknine, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,359 to Waknine.
There are now available resins that exhibit high diametral tensile strength, excellent optical properties and polishability, and low water sorption while at the same time complying with all of the requirements specified in ADA Specification No. 27 for Direct Filling Resins. Exemplary materials comprise monomers and polymers disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,068 to Waknine and U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,104 to Waknine. Such materials make use of a novel polycarbonate dimethacrylate (PCDMA) which is the condensation product of two parts of hydroxyalkylmethacrylate of the formula H2C═C(CH3)C(O)O—A—OH, in which A is a C1-C6 alkylene, and 1 part of a bis(chloroformate) of the formula ClC(O)—(OR)n—OC(O)Cl, in which R is a C2-C5 alkylene having at least two carbon atoms in its principal chain, and n is an integer from 1 to 4. This polycarbonate dimethacrylate imparts excellent strength to the cured resin, but it is somewhat costly. Another advantageous resin having lower water sorption characteristics, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,000, is an ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (EBPDMA) having the structure CH2═C(CH3)CO2(C2H4)xC6H4C(CH3)2C6H4(C2H4)yO2CC(CH3)═CH2, wherein x+y is an integer from 1 to 20, and preferably from 2 to 7. While such resins are well suited for their intended purposes, there is a perceived need in the art for dental resin materials with even more advantageous physical properties, particularly strength, water sorption, and wear.
Current dental restorative composites are continuously being developed to improve strength, wear resistance, and other chemical and physical working and handling properties. One of the main challenges associated with achieving an optimal composite is the development of improved filler compositions. Numerous attempts have been made in recent decades to create optimal fillers suitable for dental composites. These efforts have included reducing the size of glass/ceramic fillers, creating sol-gel spherical microparticles, surface modification of particles/fibers, and treatment of amorphous silica particles. Although some of these efforts have provided some improved properties of dental composites, there remains a continuing need for improved, highly functional filler material.

Dental resin materials, method of manufacture, and uses thereof


A tool grinding machine has a moveable tool receiving member and a support rotatable about a vertical axis. The support includes a solid disk having a great mass allowing a vibration-free grinding at great output. Grinding spindles are arranged vertically on the disk for grinding a tool received in the tool receiving member. The grinding spindles have a vertical extension above the disk. The disk has a vertical thickness matching at least the vertical length of the grinding spindles.

The present invention relates to a tool grinding machine, especially for sharpening and regrinding drill bits, end-milling cutters, reamers, etc.
Tool grinding machines for sharpening or regrinding of cutting tools, especially end-milling cutters with spherical cutting heads are nowadays controlled by CNC control. In order to be able to adjust to different geometries of end-mill cutters with spherical cutter heads, the grinding machines need at least five CNC-controlled axes. This is also true for conventional and end-milling cutters and conical end-milling cutters with spherical cutter heads. The known tool grinding machines, in general, have a plurality of grinding wheels which can be moved into a respective grinding position in order to ensure the required flexibility during grinding of differently sized tools and tools of different geometries. In general, different suitable grinding wheels are provided for the different machining steps, such as, for example, spiral groove cutting, grinding of tool ends, regrinding and finish grinding, etc. This plurality of grinding wheels can be arranged adjacent to one another on a single grinding spindle, whereby the grinding wheels must be spaced from one another such that no hinderance during grinding of the tool with one or the other grinding wheels occurs. Instead of a plurality of grinding wheels on one single spindle, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of spindles having one or more grinding wheels thereat whereby the respectively required spindle is then moved into the working or grinding position. A drill bit grinding machine with two grinding wheels and two parallel grinding spindles is disclosed in German Patent 33 48 060 C2. A drill bit grinding machine, having a grinding wheel that is supported on a spindle connected to a horizontally linearly moveable slide on which the drive motor for the grinding spindle is also arranged, is known from German Patent 41 13 146 C2.
In the design having a plurality of grinding wheels on a single grinding spindle, grinding wheels having only a relatively small diameter between 50 and 100 mm can be used in order to avoid too great a distance between the grinding wheels and thus too great a projection of the grinding wheel past the grinding spindle. This is necessary because the danger of hindering one another is greater, the greater the diameter of the grinding wheel when a plurality of grinding wheels is arranged on a grinding spindle, especially when tools with spiral grooves such as end-milling cutters must be machined. Furthermore, for certain grinding machining steps, especially for grinding end-milling cutters with spherical cutter heads, grinding wheels with small diameters are required for grinding the groove within the spherical cutter head while for other machining steps at the same tool larger diameter grinding wheels are much more efficient. However, in order to avoid hinderance between the grinding wheels during grinding, the grinding wheels on a single spindle must be provided with substantially the same diameter.
In a known design with two grinding wheels on two grinding spindles, the grinding spindles are arranged coaxially to one another whereby this axis extends horizontally and the grinding wheels are moveable by rotation about a vertical axis, which extends approximately centrally between the two grinding spindles, can be moved into the machining position at the tool. The axis of rotation about which the grinding spindles with their respective grinding wheels are rotated in order to bring them into the respective working position is always spaced relatively far away from the grinding wheel so that even for a very stiff construction vibrations and indexing imprecisions will occur. The possibility of arranging the spindles at a very stiff support is also impeded by the fact that below the grinding spindle a free space must be available in order not to impede the movement of relatively long tools. For grinding at high output and great material removal rate, the stiffness of such a construction is often not sufficient.
When dressing the grinding wheels, it is necessary in these known tool grinding machines that the grinding wheels must be removed and transported to a separate dressing device in order for them to be machined.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tool grinding machine with at least two grinding spindles that allows to arrange the axis of the grinding spindles closely adjacent to one another and on a stiff support so that grinding can be performed at great output and at great material removal rate without causing vibrations and with great precision. Furthermore, it should be possible to dress the grinding wheels within the tool grinding machine.

Tool grinding machine having at least two spindles

International Tool Machines of Florida Inc.


A method, apparatus and a computer program product to generate an audible speech word that corresponds to text. The method includes providing a text word and, in response to the text word, processing pre-recorded speech segments that are derived from a plurality of speakers to selectively concatenate together speech segments based on at least one cost function to form audio data for generating an audible speech word that corresponds to the text word. A data structure is also provided for use in a concatenative text-to-speech system that includes a plurality of speech segments derived from a plurality of speakers, where each speech segment includes an associated attribute vector each of which is comprised of at least one attribute vector element that identifies the speaker from which the speech segment was derived.

Conventional CTTS systems use a database of speech segments (e.g., phonemes, syllables, and/or entire words) recorded from a single speaker to select speech segments to concatenate based on some input text string. In order to achieve high-quality synthetic speech, however, a large amount of data need be collected from the single speaker; thus making the development of such a database time-consuming and costly.
Reference with regard to some conventional approaches may be had, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,199 B2, "Speech Synthesis Apparatus and Selection Method", Brittan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,393, "High Quality Concatenative Reading System", Hata et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,064, "Method and Apparatus for Automatic Generation of Vocal Emotion in a Synthetic Text-to-Speech System", Caroline G. Henton. For example, the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,393 employs a dictionary of sampled sounds, where the dictionary may include separate dictionaries of sounds sampled at different sampling rates. The dictionary may also store all pronunciation variants of a word for each of a plurality of prosodic environments.
New domains for deploying text-to-speech invariably arise, usually accompanied by a desire to supplement the database of recordings used to build a CTTS system with additional data corresponding to words, phrases and/or sentences which are highly relevant to the new domain, such as specific company names or technical phrases not present in the original script.
However, in the event that the original speaker whose voice was recorded and sampled to populate the dictionary is no longer available to make an additional recording, a new speaker may be required to re-record all of the original script, in addition to the new domain-specific script. Such a process would not be efficient for a number of reasons.

Method, apparatus and computer program providing a multi-speaker database for concatenative text-to-speech synthesis


The present invention relates to a device and a method for the measurement of heat flow from at least one sample. The device 1 is adapted to receive a multi well vessel assembly (2) with samples in one or several vessels (21, 22, . . . 2n). The device (1) comprises an opening (11) for insertion of the vessel assembly (2) into the device (1), a measurement chamber (12) with a heat sink (13), a channel (14) extending from the opening (11) to the measurement chamber (12). The present invention specifically teaches that the opening (11) and channel (14) leads horizontally into the device (1), and that the height of the opening (11), channel (14) and measurement chamber (12) is only high enough to receive the vessel assembly (2).

In most physical, chemical and biological processes result in a change in the heat content of the system. Calorimetry is the methodology to directly measure changes in heat content. Calorimetric instruments are used in widespread application in physics, chemistry and biology. From calorimetric data fundamental thermodynamic properties such as internal enthalpy change, ΔH, heat capacity change, ΔCp, and absolute heat capacity, Cp, can be obtained. Further analysis of data can indirectly give other thermodynamic properties such as Gibbs free energy change, ΔG°, and entropy change, ΔS°. For more complex systems calorimetric instruments are used for monitoring thermal events as an indicator of complex or unknown processes occurring in the samples.
There are mainly two commercial calorimetric methodologies—isothermal calorimetry and scanning calorimetry. Scanning calorimetry means that the temperature of the calorimetric device is actively changed, while for isothermal calorimetry the temperature is nearly constant or changed by the heat adsorbed or produced by the process in the calorimeter.
Due to sample specific needs or methodological reasons the commercial calorimetric available instruments are more or less specialized for specific areas of interest in physics, chemistry and biology. There are for example differential scanning calorimeters (DSC) that are specialized for solid samples and others for liquid solutions or mixtures. There are calorimeters designed for use at low, high temperature applications as well as in the temperature rang 0-120° C. There are instruments designed for solely titration at isothermal conditions (ITC).
Presently, industrial calorimetric applications are mainly related to material science issues regarding manufacturing control and physical or chemical stability of products. Biological processes are often connected with changes in metabolic activity, which are manifested by changes in heat as a result from oxidative processes on cellular level. The type of biological material that have been studied by isothermal calorimetry are for example mammalian cells, plant cells, prokaryotic cells, mammalian tissues, plant tissues and whole organisms. Examples on cellular events that have been studied by calorimetry are mitosis, necrosis, apoptosis, and induced changes in metabolic activity. The applications have potential to be applied biological industrial areas among others such as eukaryotic and prokaryotic protein production, drug discovery, drug development and clinical work (see e.g. Beezer, A. E., et al (1993) Microbios. 73, 205-213, Beezer, A. E. (1990) Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 15, 369-372, Monti, M. (1990 Thermochimica Acta 172, 53-60, and Takahashi, K. (1990) Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 15, 387-394). One important reason for this is that the methodology presents data as real-time data, which is a common demand on new technologies for biological applications.
All methods and technologies for the life science industrial organizations need to have high sample through put with simple sample handling. In order to satisfy industrial needs the methods have to be based upon parallel multiple sample detection, preferably as array system. The commercial calorimetric instruments that are available have that in common that the samples are individually loaded or inserted into the calorimeter. There are a few commercial available multi-channel calorimeters which all have individual calorimetric channels that share a common thermostat.
There is a number of multi-channel calorimeters described that either use resistance thermometry, i.e. temperature determination by thermistor resistor thermometer or platinum resistor thermometer, or thermal detection of electrothermal voltage determination, as described in patent publications US2004/0107986, US2005/0241869, US2005/0036536 and US2004/0038228. There are microcalorimeters described that are based on thermopile chips, se US2004/0038228 and Maskow, T. et al. (2006) J. Biotechnol. 122, 431-42. These types of instruments are characterized by high sensitivity, small sample volumes (a few micro liters), fast response, and appearing to be suitable for multi-channel designs. However, in many applications the sample volumes are too small, e.g. in experiments with a monolayer of cells, for non-homogenous samples like soil and with samples like tissues, organs and animals. Further, for heat conduction calorimeters the detection limit for a certain type of sample is proportional to the amount of material contained in the vessel. For materials with very low specific thermal powers it may therefore be necessary to conduct the measurements with sample volumes much larger than a few micro liters. There are security demands and cost effectiveness demands from industrial users that the samples are contained in and experiments performed in disposable sample containers. The chip technology has not yet been able to handle this problem.
Thermopile heat-conduction calorimeters can be used for measuring high sensitivity changes in heat content from samples in which physical, chemical or biological processes occur. The heat is measured by measuring the heat flow from a sample, through a thermopile, to a thermostated heat sink. This principle of measuring heat has not yet been shown to be compatible with multiple removable, and therefore disposable, multiple sample vessels in array format. The reasons for this have been difficulties in (i) ensuring good thermal equilibration of the inserted body of an array when inserting an array into the measuring chamber, (ii) avoiding dramatic thermal and mechanical, i.e. pressure, disturbances of thermostating blocks and heat-sink when inserting an array into the measuring chamber, and (iii) ensuring high thermal conductivity connection between a removable array of multiple vessels and heat-flow sensors, such as thermopiles. Regardless if it is a single vessel container or an array of multiple vessel containers, the sample container needs to be introduced into the calorimetric measuring chamber in more than one step in order to obtain thermal equilibrium and stable calorimetric signal within sufficient time. The calorimetric sample vessels are vertically inserted into calorimetric devices. For an array of multiple vessel containers this way of insertion causes poor and long equilibration time thermal equilibration. It also causes large disturbances of the thermopiles, due to piezoelectric response of the thermopiles.
Accordingly, there is a need for a calorimetric instrument that is based upon an array system where the sample containers are disposable. The instrument should be simple to handle and with high sensitivity according to the demands of the users.

Device, method and vessel assembly for the measurement of heat flow at least one sample


Systems and methods for audio communication are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of transducer units and plurality of three dimensional sensor modules (TDSMs) adapted to be located in a plurality of sites/spaces to which service should be provided by the system. The plurality of transducer units are capable of emitting/directing and focusing ultra-sonic signals to respective coverage zones in the sites, such that localized (confined) sound field can be formed at selected spatial position in the coverage zones by utilizing sound from ultrasound technique. The TDSMs are associated with respective sensing volumes in the sites and are operable to obtain sensory data indicative of the 3D arrangement of elements in a within the sites. The system includes: (i) user detection module for processing the sensory data from the TDSMs to determine spatial location of a user within the sensing volumes; (ii) a mapping module providing spatial mapping between the sensing volumes and the coverage zones; and (iii) output sound generator adapted to utilize the spatial mapping to selecting a transducer unit for serving the user, and operating the selected transducer to produce the localized sound field in close vicinity to the user's head/ear(s).

Audio communication takes a large portion of human interaction. We conduct telephone conversations, listen to music or sound associated with TV shows and receive alert such as alarm clock or finish of a microwave oven or dishwasher cycle.
The natural wave behavior of acoustic signals and the relatively long wavelength results with large spreading of the sound waves and allows people located in a common region to hear the sound and perceive the data carried thereon.
Various techniques are known for allowing a user to communication via sound while maintaining privacy of the communication. Between such techniques, best known examples include the telephone receiver and headphones or earphones, all providing relatively low amplitude acoustic signals directed at one or both of the user's ears.
Additional techniques developed by the inventors of the present application provide private sound transmitted to a selected user from a remote location. The details of this technique are described in WO 2014/076707 and in WO 2014/147625 both assigned to the assignee of the present application.
More specifically, WO 2014/076707 discloses a system and method for generating a localized audible sound field at a designated spatial location. According to this technique, spatially confined audible sound carrying predetermined sound-data is produced locally at a designated spatial location at which it should be heard. Even more specifically, according to the disclosed technique in order to generate the locally confined audible sound carrying the desired sound-data, frequency content of at least two ultrasound beams are determined based on the sound data and the of at least two ultrasound beams are transmitted by an acoustic transducer system (e.g. transducer system including an arrangement of a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements) Then, the spatially confined audible sound is produced at the designated location by the at least two ultrasound beams. For example, the at least two ultrasound beams include at least one primary audio modulated ultrasound beam, whose frequency contents includes at least two ultrasonic frequency components selected to produce the audible sound after undergoing non-linear interaction in a non linear medium, and one or more additional ultrasound beams each including one or more ultrasonic frequency components. Location-data indicative of the designated location is utilized for determining at least two focal points for the at least two ultrasound beams respectively such that focusing the at least two ultrasound beams on the at least two focal points enables generation of a localized sound field with the audible sound in the vicinity of the designated spatial location.
WO 2014/147625, which is also assigned to the assignee of the present application, describes a transducer system including a panel having one or more piezo-electric enabled foils/sheets/layers and an arrangement of electric contacts coupled to the panel. The electric contacts are configured to define a plurality of transducers in the panel. Each transducer is associated with a respective region of the panel and with at least two electric contacts that are coupled to at least two zones at that respective region of the panel. The electric contacts are adapted to provide electric field in these at least two zones to cause different degrees of piezo-electric material deformation in these at least two zones and to thereby deform the respective region of the panel in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the panel, and to thereby enable efficient conversion of electrical signals to mechanical vibrations (acoustic waves) and/or vice versa. The transducer of this invention may be configured and operable for producing at least two ultrasound beams usable for generating the spatially confined audible sound disclosed in WO 2014/076707 discussed above.


A head-worn device includes: a transceiver for wireless interconnection of the head-worn device with another device; and a housing for accommodation of parts of the head-worn device, the housing having a battery compartment for accommodation of a battery for power supply of the head-worn device, and a battery cover for closing the battery compartment; and a controller that is configured to disable the transceiver in response to repeated opening and closing operations of the battery cover, while the parts of the head-worn device are operational.

Operation of devices that send or receive signals is generally prohibited on board commercial aircrafts while in flight, due to the potential impact on aircraft avionics and the potential for interference with ground cell networks.
Flight mode is a setting available on many electronic devices that, when engaged, suspends many of the device's signal transmitting functions, thereby disabling, e.g. a mobile phone's capacity to place or receive calls or text messages while still permitting use of other functions that do not require signal transmission; e.g., games, built-in camera, MP3 player.
Flight mode permits the user to operate the device while on board a commercial aircraft while in flight.
Other names include airplane mode, aeroplane mode, offline mode, and standalone mode.
Head-worn devices with transceivers for wireless communication with other devices and with other functions that do not require wireless communication are well-known, e.g. hearing aids.


The generatrix directions of cylindrical lenses 11a and 11b are perpendicular to the optical axis, and are perpendicular to each other. As a result, the optical system combining the cylindrical lenses 11a and 11b can achieve the same optical effect as a spherical lens. This system is characterized by the fact that since the respective lenses are cylindrical lenses, there is no shift in the optical axis even if the lenses are moved in the generatrix direction. For example, in cases where scratches on the lenses have become conspicuous, the useful life of the laser device can be extended by moving the lenses in the generatrix direction (direction indicated by the arrow) by means of a moving mechanism (not shown in the figures), e.g., a stage equipped with a micrometer, and using unused portions of the lenses.

In recent years, laser light has been used in various applications; for example, such light is used for cutting and working metals, is used as a light source for photolithographic devices in semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses, and is also used in various types of measuring devices, and in procedures and treatment devices used in surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, and the like. In particular, laser light has recently come to be used in the irradiation of the cornea in order to perform ablation of the surface of the cornea (PRK) or ablation of the interior of the surgically opened cornea (LASIK), and the performance of therapy for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by correcting the curvature and irregular indentations and projections of the cornea has attracted attention, and has begun to be adapted for practical use in some cases. Devices which perform ablation of the surface of the cornea by irradiating the cornea with ArF excimer laser light (wavelength: 193 nm) have been known as such corneal treatment devices.
However, ArF excimer laser oscillators are constructed with argon gas, fluorine gas, neon gas or the like sealed inside the chamber, so that tight sealing of these gases is required. Furthermore, filling and recover of the respective gases must also be performed, so that the problem of increased size and complexity of the apparatus is encountered. Moreover, in the case of an ArF excimer laser oscillator, the following problem also arises: namely, periodic replacement of the internal gas or an overhaul of the apparatus is required in order to maintain a predetermined laser light generating performance.
Accordingly, it is desirable to use a solid-state laser instead of such a gas laser as a laser light source. However, the wavelength of the laser light emitted from a solid-state laser is ordinarily longer than the wavelength described above, so that such solid-state lasers are not suited for use in (for example) corneal treatment devices. Therefore, a method has been developed in which long-wavelength light emitted from such a solid-state laser is used after being converted into short-wavelength ultraviolet light (e.g., an eighth wave) by using a nonlinear optical crystal. For example, such a technique is described in Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2001-353176. LBO crystals, SBBO crystals, and the like are known as nonlinear optical elements that are used for such purposes.
In such wavelength conversion optical systems, the laser light from the laser light source constituting the fundamental wave is focused using a focusing lens, and is caused to be incident on a nonlinear optical element. In cases where the phase matching conditions are satisfied, the intensity of the laser light that is produced by wavelength conversion is proportional to the square of the intensity of the fundamental wave; accordingly, it is particularly essential that the intensity of the output light be increased by using a focusing lens to focus the light. The laser light produced by wavelength conversion using a nonlinear optical element is shaped into a desired beam shape by means of a lens in accordance with the intended use.
Meanwhile, fuzed silica glass is widely used as a material for lenses used in the ultraviolet region for reasons such as the fact that such glass has a superior transmissivity in the ultraviolet region, and the thermal expansion coefficient of such glass is extremely small, so that the glass has superior temperature stability.
Fuzed silica glass has such superior characteristics as those described above in the ultraviolet region; however, it has been ascertained that such glass is damaged by irradiation with ultraviolet laser light, for example, at a wavelength of 248 nm or 193 nm.
Accordingly, the following problem has been encountered: namely, lenses made of a fuzed silica glass must be replaced at predetermined intervals of use. As a countermeasure in this case, it is conceivable that the useful life might be extended by shifting the lens so that unused portions are newly used, thus avoiding portions that have been subjected to damage. In this case, however, the following problem arises: namely, the optical axis is shifted.
The present invention was devised in light of such circumstances; it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical element and optical system that can be used over a long period of time even in cases where this element and system are formed from a material whose performance is caused to be damaged by the light that is used, and also to provide a laser device, exposure apparatus, mask inspection device and macromolecular crystal working apparatus using this optical element and optical system.

Optical element, optical system, laser device, exposure device, mask testing device and high polymer crystal processing device


A mechanism for the convenient and quick engagement of a power take-off of a farm tractor with a driven implement without the need for the operator to leave the tractor. The device is usable with a three point hitch for an implement and includes a spring loaded engagement shaft so that the power take off engagement is delayed until the implement is securely hitched.

This pertains to farm implements, and more particularly to a mechanism e engagement of the power take off of a farm tractor to the shaft of a farm implement adapted to be driven by such power take off.
The advent of larger and heavier farm tractors and other machines has made manual hitching of implements to tractors less and less convenient. Therefore, the use of automatic or powered hitches has become common. A principal type of this sort of engagement is the three-point hitch by which the front of the implement is engaged and lifted.
Although automatically engageable hitches between the tractor and implement for pulling by the tractor are common, certain pulled implements may also be actively driven from the tractor through a power take off comprising a driving shaft extending from the rear of the tractor. Self-unloading wagons, manure spreaders and the like are examples of such implements. It will be obvious that some of the advantages of the automatic hitching of such devices is lost if it is necessary to dismount from the tractor to manually connect the power take off.
By the present invention, I provide a means to connect the power take off shaft of the tractor to the driven shaft of the implement at the same time as the pulling engagement of the tractor to the implement is achieved. A more complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following description of the figures.


The present invention provides a pressure sensitive adhesive composition for optical members, which is excellent in durability, re-releasability and stress relaxation, as well as a pressure sensitive adhesive composition for optical members, which hardly increases adhesion after storage for a long time and does not leave a residual adhesive on glass upon disposal or repair. The pressure sensitive adhesive composition for optical members according to the present invention comprises 100 parts by weight of an acrylic polymer (A) having a weight-average molecular weight of 500,000 or more, containing at least 50 wt % alkyl (meth)acrylate having an alkyl group with 5 or more carbon atoms and 0.2 to 2 wt % unsaturated carboxylic acid as the monomer unit, 0.1 to 4 parts by weight of an acrylic polymer (B) having a weight-average molecular weight of 2,000 to 50,000, containing at least 70 wt % alkyl(meth)acrylate and 1 to 7 wt % unsaturated carboxylic acid as the monomer unit and having a higher carboxylic acid equivalent than that of the acrylic polymer (A), 0.01 to 1 part by weight of a silane coupling agent, and a crosslinking agent.

Optical members used in liquid crystal displays, for example a polarizing plate and a retardation plate, are attached via a pressure sensitive adhesive to liquid crystal cells. Materials used in such optical members expand and contract significantly under heating conditions and moistening conditions so that under such conditions, dry spots and lifting easily occur after attachment. Accordingly, the pressure sensitive adhesive for optical members is required to be durable even under heating conditions and moistening conditions.
When an attachment surface upon attaching an optical member is bitten with foreign matter, or an optical member is out of position because of erroneous attachment, the optical member is released for reutilization from a liquid crystal cell. When the optical member is released from the crystal cell, the re-releasability of the pressure sensitive adhesive to easily release the optical member is required so as to prevent a gap of the liquid crystal cell from being changed or the liquid crystal cell from being broken. However, when techniques of merely improving the adhesion state of the optical member are adopted for the reason the durability of the pressure sensitive adhesive for optical members is regarded as important, the pressure sensitive adhesive is rendered inferior in re-releasability.
Further, the pressure sensitive adhesive for optical member is required to uniformly relax stress caused by a dimensional change in optical members such as a polarizing plate under heating or moistening conditions. When the pressure sensitive adhesive is inferior in relaxation of stress, residual stress remains in the optical members such as a polarizing plate, to bring about adverse influences such as discoloration and coloring failure in some cases.
Various kinds of materials are proposed as the pressure sensitive adhesive used in optical members. For example, it is attempted to improve the stress relaxation of the pressure sensitive adhesive by blending a low-molecular weight polymer with a high-molecular weight polymer (see JP-A 10-279907, JP-A 2000-109771, JP-A 2000-89731, JP-A 2001-335767, and JP-A 2002-121521).
JP-A 10-279907 proposes a pressure sensitive adhesive composition having a crosslinked structure formed by blending 20 to 200 parts by weight of a low-molecular weight polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 30,000 or less with 100 parts by weight of a high-molecular weight polymer having a high functional group proportion. It is disclosed therein that a three-dimensional structure of the high-molecular weight component in the pressure sensitive adhesive composition prevents foaming and peeling under high temperature and high humidity, and internal stress caused by a dimensional change in a polarizing plate can be absorbed by the low-molecular weight polymer component.
JP-A 2000-109771 proposes a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a high-molecular weight polymer blended with a low-molecular weight polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 500,000 or less. It is disclosed therein that the pressure sensitive adhesive composition can relax stress concentration to prevent coloring failure and discoloration of a liquid crystal cell, and after released, does not permit any residual adhesive or fogging on the liquid crystal cell.
JP-A 2000-89731 proposes a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising 1 to 50 parts by weight of a low-molecular weight polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 5,000 and less than 500,000 blended with 100 parts by weight of a high-molecular weight polymer, wherein either of the high-molecular weight polymer or the low-molecular weight polymer contains nitrogen-containing functional groups. It is disclosed therein that the pressure sensitive adhesive composition is excellent in durability due to binding of the nitrogen-containing functional groups to an adherent, and prevents coloring failure by coping with expansion and contraction of a polarizing plate.
JP-A 2001-335767 proposes a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising 5 to 100 parts by weight of an acrylic oligomer having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 10,000 and a bifunctional crosslinking agent blended with 100 parts by weight of a high-molecular weight polymer. It is disclosed therein that the pressure sensitive adhesive composition is excellent in adhesion to an adherent and possesses excellent relaxation of stress, to attain durability and prevent coloring failure.
JP-A 2002-121521 proposes a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising 10 to 100 parts by weight of a low-molecular weight polymer having a glass transition point of 0 to −80° C. and a weight-average molecular weight of 30,000 to 100,000 and a multifunctional compound blended with 100 parts by weight of a high-molecular weight polymer. It is disclosed therein that the pressure sensitive adhesive composition can cope with peeling, foaming and coloring failure phenomenon, and is excellent in reworkability (re-releasability) concerned with the degree of difficulty in releasing a polarizing film from a liquid crystal cell and in re-attaching it.
Any of the above pressure sensitive adhesive compositions comprising a low-molecular weight polymer blended with a high-molecular weight polymer are excellent in durability and absorb internal stress by the low-molecular weight component. However, it cannot be said that any of the above pressure sensitive adhesive compositions sufficiently satisfy durability, re-releasability and stress relaxation. Particularly, the pressure sensitive adhesive compositions are poor in the ability to re-release optical members in order to re-utilize liquid crystal cells. In evaluation of reworkability (re-releasability) in JP-A 2002-121521, reworkability are assumed to be excellent when a pressure sensitive adhesive polarizing film previously attached to a glass plate, treated in an autoclave and left at 23° C. under 65% RH for 24 hours shows an adhesion of not higher than 1200 g/25 mm (about 12 N/25 mm) upon peeling at 180°. According to this standard of reworkability, the reworkability of a larger crystal cell as an evaluation sample (sample width: 250 mm) are assumed to be excellent when the adhesion thereof upon peeling is not higher than 12 kg/250 mm. Under this standard, however, the gap of such a larger liquid crystal cell is often broken.
On the other hand, liquid crystal displays come to be used in personal computers and TV sets, and large liquid crystal displays are recently usable, and the number of large liquid crystal displays is rapidly increasing. At present, waste materials from the liquid crystal displays are not so much, but it is estimated that the waste materials are rapidly increased in near future, and the amount of the waste materials is estimated to reach about 100,000 tons annually. Waste materials from TFT liquid crystal panels, for example, are composed of 85 wt % glass and 15 wt % polarizing film (resin). The glass is milled and used as e.g. glass cullets for building materials, but the amount of such reused glass is not so great at present. This is because isolation of glass is difficult. Accordingly, there is demand for techniques of separating glass from other components. Methods of recycling used liquid crystal displays are disclosed (see JP-A 2000-24613, JP-A 2000-189939 and JP-A 2000-84531), but these methods involve heating the liquid crystal displays at high temperatures where enormous energy is required, thus bringing about a problem of higher costs. In addition, methods of fractionating and recovering materials constituting liquid crystal displays to recycle them are also disclosed (JP-A 2002-159955 and JP-A 2001-328849). However, methods using special devices or leading to generation of waste alkali solutions are hardly generally utilizable because of problems in costs and waste liquor treatment. An anti-reflection film provided with an adhesive, which upon disposal, is readily releasable is disclosed (JP-A 11-209708).
An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensitive adhesive composition for optical members, which is excellent in durability, re-releasability and stress relaxation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensitive adhesive composition for optical members, which hardly increases adhesion after storage for a long time and does not leave a residual adhesive on glass upon disposal or repair. A further object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensitive adhesive layer for optical members, which is formed from the pressure sensitive adhesive composition for optical members. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensitive adhesive optical member having the pressure sensitive adhesive layer, as well as an image display using the pressure sensitive adhesive optical member.

Pressure sensitive adhesive composition for optical members, pressure sensitive adhesive layer for optical members, pressure sensitive adhesive optical member and image display


A working vehicle includes an engine in the rear of a passenger seat, and a working machine vertically movably disposed in the rear of the engine, wherein an upper end of the working machine which is lifted to the highest position is set lower than an upper end of the engine. As a result, a ventilation in the vicinity of the engine is improved and a cooling effect of the engine is enhanced. Also, a maintenance of the engine can be conducted without being interfered by the working machine. Further, with this arrangement, a center of gravity of the working machine is low, thereby enhancing a stability of the working vehicle, and a driver or a passenger of the vehicle can visually check backward much easier.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to a working vehicle in which a working machine is vertically movably disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle frame.
2. Description of Prior Art
A rotary working machine connected to a rear portion of a working vehicle is pivotaly supported through a working machine-lifting/lowering shaft laterally disposed at rear portion of the vehicle, such that the rotary working machine can be lifted upward when the working vehicle travels on a road or when the working vehicle turns during tilling. The working machine-lifting/lowering shaft also functions as a power transmitting shaft for transmitting a driving force of an engine mounted on the vehicle to the rotary working machine, so that even if a lifting or lowering position of the rotary working machine is varied, a power can be transmitted without any problem.
In such a working vehicle, if the engine is disposed between a passenger seat provided at substantially central portion of the vehicle and the working machine provided at a rear portion of the vehicle, front and rear portions of the engine is blocked by the seat and the working machine when the working machine is lifted. The disadvantageously deteriorates a ventilation and thus, a cooling effect of the engine. Further, when a maintenance of the engine is conducted, the lifted working machine becomes a disturbance for such maintenance.
On the other hand, if the rotary working machine is connected to the working vehicle at a location largely separated rearwardly from the rear portion of the vehicle body, when the rotary working machine is lifted, there are problems that a load applied to the vehicle frame is increased, the vehicle can not turn sharply, and a followability of the working machine with respect to the vehicle body is deteriorated and thus, the working efficiency is lowered.


A method of storing and a kit containing a full color dry image-forming material which does not form a muddy color, even after being stored over a long period of time, is provided by;. 1) A method of storing and a kit containing a dry image-forming material comprising a support and a layer provided thereon containing microcapsules containing at least a photo-curable compound, a photo initiator and a color precursor in the internal phase. The material contains a color-developer in the layer containing the microcapsule or a layer adjacent thereto and the dry image-forming material is packed together with a humidity-controlling material; or, PA1 2) The method of storing and kit as above, wherein the dry image-forming material and a humidity-controlling material are stored with a low moisture-permeable film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of storing a dry image-forming material using light-sensitive microcapsules, specifically to a method of storing a dry image-forming material which has an excellent storage stability during production and use.
2. Description of Prior Art
Imaging processes based on photosensitive microencapsulated materials are well known. The Meed Corporation discloses a method for forming an image through exposure-controlled release of an image-forming agent from a microcapsule containing a photohardenable composition in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,399,209, 4,440,846 and 4,772,541.
In the method, a colorless image-forming agent, called a leuco dye, which is released under exposure-control from a microcapsule, is reacted with a color-developer present outside the microcapsule to form a color image.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,209 describes a transfer imaging system. That is, an image-forming agent is image-wise transferred to a developer sheet containing a chromogenic material and reacted with a developer to form an image. U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,846 discloses a `self-contained` system wherein an imaging system and a developer are present on the same support. That is, an image-forming agent is encapsulated in pressure-rupturable capsules, and upon exposure and capsule rupture the image-forming agent contacts and reacts with the developer to form an image on the support. These methods have excellent characteristics as a dry color imaging method.
The above imaging material cures the internal phase of a microcapsule or increases the viscosity thereof to control the release of a color precursor in pressure-rupturing to form a positive-positive image pattern upon exposure to light. However, it has the defect that the degree of hardening of the internal phase of a microcapsule or increasing the viscosity thereof is varied by a change in environment, particularly a variation in humidity, and as a result thereof, photographic characteristics such as light-sensitivity, maximum density and fogging density are changed.
This defect presents a serious problem in full color imaging. That is, in forming a full color image, color precursors which develop into yellow, magenta and cyan colors and photo-initiators corresponding to blue, green and red lights are encapsulated in an internal phase of the microcapsules, and the three sets of the microcapsules are mixed to prepare a full color imaging material containing a developer. However, the photographic characteristics of the respective microcapsules vary with a change in humidity to different degrees, which results in causing a problem of producing muddy colors.
That is, for example, when a yellow color is developed, cyan and magenta capsules are cured by red and green lights, and only a yellow color former reacts with a color-developer to form an image. However, the cyan or magenta capsule may insufficiently cure due to a change in humidity in certain cases, and as a result thereof, a muddy color in which cyan or magenta is blended with yellow is produced in some cases.
Such a muddy color phenomenon due to a change in humidity has been a large problem in designing a processor for forming an image when an imaging material is used as a system material to be integrated with hardware, particularly in the case when an imaging material is used as an output material for an image on a personal computer.

Method of storing and kit containing dry image-forming material


A compressor forward stub shaft comprising a plurality of axially spaced, annular rows of dovetail grooves, at least a first and a second of the plurality of rows having dovetail slots coated in part with an anti-wear coating.

This invention relates generally to rotating machine technology, and specifically, to the mounting of compressor blades in rotor dovetail slots.
Typically, wear coatings are applied to the dovetail portions of compressor blades in order to reduce compressive stresses and wear between the blades and the compressor wheel dovetail slots. Such coatings have been applied to the blade dovetails primarily due to the fact that coatings are easily applied here. In practice, for example, the blade itself is masked, and there is a direct line of sight for spraying the coating on the blade dovetail and if curing is required, the blades can be easily handled and moved through an oven. Some typical wear coatings, however, such as MoS2 and other generally similar coatings, are not compatible with a typical steel C450 alloy used for the blades. In fact, coatings applied to C450 alloy material can degrade the corrosion fatigue resistance of that material.
Accordingly, there remains a need to provide wear resistance between compressor blades and compressor wheel dovetails without jeopardizing the corrosion fatigue resistance of the blade.


In one embodiment, a service that monitors a network detects a plurality of anomalies in the network. The service uses data regarding the detected anomalies as input to one or more machine learning models. The service maps, using a conceptual space, outputs of the one or more machine learning models to symbols. The service applies a symbolic reasoning engine to the symbols, to rank the anomalies. The service sends an alert for a particular one of the detected anomalies to a user interface, based on its corresponding rank.

Networks are large-scale distributed systems governed by complex dynamics and very large number of parameters, which inhibit the application of a fixed set of patterns that aid in network operation and management. In general, network monitoring involves applying analytics to captured network information, to assess the health of the network. For example, a network monitoring service may track and assess metrics such as available bandwidth, packet loss, jitter, and the like, to ensure that the experiences of users of the network are not impinged. However, as networks continue to evolve so too will the number of applications and network services present in a given network, as well as the number of metrics available to monitor the network.
Automated systems for monitoring network operations tend to produce a massive number of alerts, many of which are of little value to a network administrator who is responsible for maintaining its health. It has been shown that many network administrators today either ignore important alerts, due to the large volume of alerts presented, or even disable certain alerting functions that could indicate actual problems in the network. Worse, the number of alerts is expected to grow over time, as networks increase in complexity and their corresponding monitoring systems become more capable.

Deep fusion reasoning engine (DFRE) for prioritizing network monitoring alerts


An apparatus and method for conferring a therapeutic current on the heart and adjacent vasculature from externally positioned electrodes is provided. The apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a current generator. The method includes applying an electric stimulus to the heart and maintaining the timing and/or level of current to prevent unwanted depolarization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for treatment of the heart and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method providing a therapeutic sub-threshold electrical current to the heart and adjacent vasculature from externally positioned electrodes
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A wide range of therapies is available for the treatment of cardiac tissue damage, heart failure and for treatment of the specific underlying disease processes. Most of these therapies may be classified as drugs, surgical intervention, or cardiac assist devices. The cardiac assist devices assist the heart in pumping function to relieve the heart of stresses during the healing process. If a condition is caused by coronary disease or is exacerbated by conduction defects, available therapies include either bypass surgery or angioplasty in the case of the former, or pacemaker therapy in the case of the latter. The above-mentioned damage and diseases as well as other factors set in motion the condition known as congestive heart failure (CHF). Although therapies have addressed treating specific indications, few therapies address the problem of tissue remodeling.
Tissue remodeling refers to the histological alteration of tissue over time. Remodeling may include histological and/or biochemical changes at the tissue, cellular and molecular levels. Tissue remodeling can be either beneficial or degenerative to a patient. Tissue remodeling is degenerative when histologically and/or biochemically normal tissue is altered in such a way that the tissue no longer functions properly. Degenerative tissue remodeling may occur progressively in patients suffering from congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation. In those patients, the resulting remodeling adversely affects the heart's performance and exacerbates the deteriorating condition of the heart. Tissue remodeling is beneficial when a histologically and/or biochemically abnormal tissue is reverted to a more normal histology and/or biochemistry.
Recently, one aspect of degenerative remodeling due to the progression of CHF has been identified as the breakdown in the collagen of the extra-cellular matrix. The extra-cellular matrix is the external structure between the cells in the heart that primarily consists of a matrix of type I collagen and fibrils. This matrix is connected to the cytoskeletal myofibrils within the myocardial cells. The matrix provides tensile strength to the tissue, governs the tissue's stiffness, and preserves the alignment of the myocardial cells. Abnormalities in the matrix's composition and concentration during dilation, hypertrophy and ischemic injury inhibit the function of the heart and may lead to heart failure.
Endogenous factors regulate the breakdown and/or re-establishment of collagen and other extra-cellular matrix components. These endogenous factors are diverse and their functions and structures are the subject of much research. The endogenous factors include a family of enzymes known as the matrix metalloproteinases. The matrix metalloproteinases catalyze a reaction breaking down the extra-cellular matrix. The enzymatic activity of the matrix metalloproteinases is countered by a set of proteins known as the tissue inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The TIMPs inhibit the enzymatic activity of the matrix metalloproteinases. The matrix metalloproteinase:TIMP ratio is typically around 1.1:1.0 in a normal heart. Hearts in the end stage of CHF may be around 6:1 or 7:1. Research has shown that the interruption of matrix metalloproteinases with pharmaceutical agents reduces chamber dilation in animal models for CHF. Relatedly, this research has shown an overall increase in the collagen content due to the treatments.
In addition, the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and, presumably, the subsequent increase in collagen have been shown to result in the beneficial remodeling of treated diseased hearts. Interruption of matrix metalloproteinases with drug therapy has been shown to reduce chamber dilation in CHF animal models. However, drug therapy for inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases may present potentially serious problems. The systemic inhibition of the matrix metalloproteinases has been found to produce a variety of side effects, such as joint and muscle pain. Therefore, a need exists for a therapy that specifically targets the desired tissue or organ to be treated.
Another aspect of degenerative remodeling is ischemic cardiomyopathy. In ischemic cardiomyopathy, a loss of blood flow or ischemia to a portion of the heart muscle causes not just weakness or scarring to that portion, but subsequently a progression to chamber dilation and failure. The loss of blood flow may be the result of arteriosclerosis, other cardiac diseases, or injury, which can result in a partial or complete blocking of blood flow to a region of the heart. The limited blood flow may result in localized tissue death known as an infarction. The presence of an infarction weakens contraction in that region and therefore degrades the heart's performance. To compound the problem, the myocardial tissue adjacent to the infarction typically receives a reduced blood flow and, therefore, exhibits reduced contractility. The zone receiving the reduced blood flow is known as an ischemic zone. The ischemic zone further inhibits the hearts ability to contract. Further, the elevation of matrix metalloproteinases, reduction in TIMPs, and consequent degradation of collagen may play an additional role in ischemic cardiomyopathy. To improve cardiac output in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathies, there is a need to re-establish blood flow to the ischemic zones.
Re-establishing blood flow to the ischemic zone has been shown to improve cardiac function. Re-establishing blood flow may be accomplished through angiogenesis in which the body generates additional blood vessels in a particular region. Prior methods for re-establishing blood flow and rehabilitating the heart frequently involved invasive surgery such as bypass surgery or angioplasty. Other methods have used lasers to bore holes through the infarctions and ischemic zones to promote blood flow. These surgeries are complicated and dangerous. Therefore, a need exists for a safe non-invasive method for re-establishing blood flow.
As alternatives to surgery, various chemical and biological agents have been developed that promote angiogenesis. Genetic engineering has played a significant role in the development of many of these new agents. However, in practice, direct injection of these angiogenic agents fails to specifically target the ischemic zone. Further, injection of genetic material within a vector is a more biologically complex process and frequently suffers from a low transfection efficiency. In addition, the introduction of xenobiotics compounds can be dangerous. The compound itself may be toxic, virulent and/or allergenic. Therefore, a need exists for a therapy for promoting angiogenesis that is efficient and does not introduce xenobiotics into a patient. In addition, many of the drugs prescribed for CHF patients are primarily for palliative or symptomatic relief These drugs typically do not treat the underlying disease process of CHF and their use frequently results in serious or prohibitive side effects. Further, the drugs are typically administered systemically and therefore, impact the entire body not just the organ or tissue to be treated. Therefore, a need exists for a therapy capable of promoting overall remodeling without inducing unwanted side effects.
Atrial fibrillation is another serious condition in which degenerative tissue remodeling also plays a significant role. As in CHF and coronary ischemic disease, early theories on the cause of atrial fibrillation suggested that its causes may be multi-factorial, but the onset of degenerative tissue remodeling exacerbates atrial fibrillation.
The promotion of healing with electric current stimulation has been recognized in medicine for many years. Most commonly, electricity is used to promote bone union in fractures that have proven refractory to normal healing. The devices used have directly applied the current to the skin over the fracture. Alternatively, other devices use pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) to promote healing. Alternatively, other devices have utilized pulsed electromagnetic fields that do not require direct skin contact. However, the use of externally applied electric current directed toward the heart have not been used due to the obvious risk of artificially inducing a contraction or provoking an arrhythmia. Therefore, a need exists for safely administering an electric current externally while minimizing the risk of inducing an abnormal contraction or arrhythmia.
Electrical stimulation of cardiac tissues has also been utilized to treat various conditions of the heart. Pacemakers provide electrical stimulation above the contraction threshold to treat various arrhythmias. Further, sub-threshold stimulation currents have been used to extend the cardiac tissue's refractory period in the treatment of tachycardia and to increase contractility in the cardiac muscle. However, sub-threshold stimuli have not been broadly applied to the heart and adjacent blood vessels to promote healing and tissue remodeling.
Providing electric current stimulation of ischemic zones on the heart has recently been shown to promote angiogenesis and further, electric current stimulation has been shown to increase collagen type I production in cultured cells. However, as mentioned above, directly or indirectly applying electrical stimulation to the heart can be dangerous. There is a risk of inducing a depolarization of the cardiac tissue resulting in an unwanted cardiac contraction. Further, there is a risk of inducing a life-threatening arrhythmia. Therefore, a need exists to provide a method and apparatus that reduces the risks of providing an electrical stimulation to the heart to promote angiogenesis, to increase collagen type I production in cultured cells, and to potentially promote other aspects of beneficial remodeling.
Further, implanting electrodes and sensors into a patient includes certain risks and inconveniences to the patient. Therefore, it is desirable to have an external method to provide an electrical stimulus to the heart. However, such external stimulation using prior methods is accompanied by an inordinate amount of risk. One reason for the risk is the inability of prior methods to accurately assess the field strength generated in the region of the heart. Significant variation in body types and sizes exists between patients. A particular stimulus level may be safe when applied to one patient, and yet that same stimulus may evoke an unwanted reaction from another patient. Another risk is the artifact created by externally applied stimulus may which may disrupt sensing and activation of an implanted pacing or defibrillation devices. The disruption could result in stimulation at a high-risk portion of the cardiac cycle, or an undesirable or unnecessary defibrillation shock. Further, external methods may be vulnerable to environmental interference. Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and method capable of providing a safe therapeutic external stimulus to the heart.
In addition, applying a therapeutic stimulus from implanted electrodes placed in or on the heart results in highly localized sub-threshold stimulation. The localization of the therapy in some cases may not be optimal such as when the entire heart or a large region of the heart requires treatment. Thus, a need exists for a method and apparatus capable of providing the largest amount of diseased tissue with a therapeutic current, while simultaneously keeping the maximum stimulus level below a safe threshold throughout the heart.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Therapeutic device and method for treating diseases of cardiac muscle