A coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor that forms a charge-generating layer by being ejected from ejection nozzles in a form of droplets, comprises a charge-generating substance, a binding resin, and a solvent, has a viscosity of 1 mPa·s to 10 mPa·s, and the solvent contains at least one kind of high-boiling point solvent having a boiling point of 120° C. to 260° C., and the high-boiling point solvent is contained at a ratio of 5 parts by weight to 40 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor that is applied to form a charge-generating layer constituting an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an electrophotographic photoreceptor produced by using the coating composition, a method for producing the electrophotographic photoreceptor, and an image-forming apparatus using the electrophotographic photoreceptor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, for electrophotographic photoreceptors used in electrophotographic apparatuses to which Carlson process is applied, inorganic photoconductive materials such as a selenium alloy, zinc oxide, and cadmium sulfide have been used. Inorganic photoconductive materials have disadvantages such as being harmful for the human body, having poor formability, being heavy, and being expensive. In recent years, there has been active development of electrophotographic photoreceptors using organic photoconductive materials that are superior to inorganic photoconductive materials in terms of, for example, non-toxicity, formability, light weight, and low price.
For example, a bisazo compound is an organic photoconductive material. A bisazo compound generally has a good sensitivity to light in the short-wavelength region or the middle-wavelength region, but the sensitivity to light in the long-wavelength region is low. Therefore, a bisazo compound is difficult to put into practical use when a semiconductor laser is used as a light source. As organic photoconductive materials having a relatively good sensitivity to light in the long-wavelength region, for example, a squaric acid methine dye, an indoline dye, a cyanine dye, and a pyrylium dye are known. However, these materials do not have a sufficient stability in repeated use and are difficult to put into practical use. As organic photoconductive materials having a good sensitivity to light in the long-wavelength region and a relatively good stability in repeated use, a phthalocyanine compound is known and has been actively researched as an organic photoconductive material in recent years.
As organic electrophotographic photoreceptors using an organic photoconductive material, electrophotographic photoreceptors of a so-called function-separated and layered type are known in which its photosensitive layer is divided into a charge-generating layer for generating charged carriers by receiving light and a charge-transporting layer for transporting the generated charged carriers. In these organic electrophotographic photoreceptors of the function-separated and layered type, each of the layers is formed of an optimal material for exerting its function, and these layers are combined, so that the sensitivity can be improved significantly and the sensitivity to the wavelength of light for exposure can be accordingly enhanced. Because of these advantages, electrophotographic photoreceptors of the function-separated and layered type have come to the mainstream of development, are being put into practical use, and are used in electrophotographic apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles. In particular, electrophotographic photoreceptors formed by using oxotitanylphthalocyanine, which is a photoconductive material, as a charge-generating substance are often used in digital image-forming apparatuses because of their high sensitivity to light in the long-wavelength region, but there is the problem that the cost is relatively high.
An organic electrophotographic photoreceptor of the function-separated and layered type has a photosensitive layer including a charge-generating layer and a charge-transporting layer. The photosensitive layer is produced as follows; a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor in which an organic charge-generating substance and a binding resin are dispersed or dissolved in an organic solvent is applied onto a hollow cylindrical conductive substrate and dried to form a charge-generating layer; then a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor in which a charge-transporting substance and a binding resin are dispersed or dissolved in an organic solvent is applied thereon and dried to form a charge-transporting layer.
A photosensitive layer is required to be a thin film and to have a uniform film thickness. More specifically, higher performance of an electrophotographic photoreceptor can be realized by applying a thinner photosensitive layer with a uniform thickness. Therefore, new application methods have been under development and examination in order to allow application at lower cost.
As methods for forming a photosensitive layer by applying a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor onto a conductive substrate serving as a bare tube for a photoreceptor, for example, dip coating, roll coating, blade coating, and spray coating are conventionally known. However, these methods have problems such as inability of providing uniform coating films or poor production efficiency.
The dip coating method is often used in manufacturing an electrophotographic photoreceptor, in which method a conductive substrate serving as a bare tube for a photoreceptor is dipped while one end thereof being held and the surface subjected to application of the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor being held perpendicular to the liquid surface of the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and then lifted from the coating composition However, the film thickness of the layer that is obtained by the dip coating method depends significantly on the lifting speed at which the conductive substrate is lifted from the coating composition, the viscosity of the coating composition, and the evaporation speed of a volatile component contained in the coating composition. Therefore, these factors have to be controlled strictly. Furthermore, since the conductive substrate is lifted from the coating composition in the vertical direction, the coating composition flows down along the surface of the conductive support by gravity effect, and the film thickness of the conductive support on the lower side in the lifting direction is larger than that on the upper side. Thus, a difference in the sensitivity appears in the vertical direction. A coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor applied onto a lower portion is difficult to dry, and when a next coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is applied before the previous one has been dried completely, these coating compositions for an electrophotographic photoreceptor are mixed, and thus a desired photosensitive layer may not be formed. Furthermore, a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor flows into an end portion that is to be a non-printed portion, and thus masking and a process of eliminating the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor are necessary. In addition, in order to dip a conductive substrate, a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor in at least an amount that is sufficient for dipping the conductive substrate is necessary, and there is no choice but to dispose of the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor after a period during which the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor can be used (pot life), and thus the use efficiency of the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is poor.
In roll coating, a film of a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor with a regulated film thickness is formed on a coating roll, and while a conductive substrate located near or in contact with the coating roll and the coating roll are rotated, the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is transferred and applied from the coating roll onto the conductive substrate. However, when detaching the coating roll and the conductive substrate after the application, a so-called liquid trailing phenomenon, that is, a phenomenon in which an extra coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is attached to the conductive substrate by the surface tension of the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor tends to occur, and a joint remains in the coating film because of this liquid trailing phenomenon, and the film thickness becomes non-uniform. As a result, defects occur in the images.
In the blade coating method, a blade is located near a conductive substrate, a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is supplied to the blade, the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is applied onto the conductive substrate with the blade, and the blade is withdrawn after one rotation of the conductive substrate. The method provides high productivity, but when the blade is withdrawn, a part of the coating film applied to the conductive substrate is protruded by surface tension of the coating composition and the film thickness becomes non-uniform.
In the spraying coating method, coating is performed by spraying a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor from a spray nozzle in the form of fine particles, and therefore the appearance after coating is good. However, since a thickness of a layer formed by one coating is small, it is necessary to repeat coating a plurality of times in order to obtain a desired thickness. Furthermore, when a large amount of coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is applied for coating, the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is dropped, and a coating layer with non-uniform thickness is formed. Furthermore, a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is ejected from spray nozzles in the form of a cone, and therefore the precision of application is poor and masking is necessary in order to prevent, for example, the coating compositions for an electrophotographic photoreceptor from flowing into an end portion of a conductive substrate. In addition, the application efficiency is poor, so that an apparatus for collecting a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor that is not applied is necessary, and a processing apparatus is newly necessary in order to reuse the collected coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor. Thus, processes other than application increase, and the production efficiency becomes poor.
As another method than the above, a method in which a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is applied by ink-jet coating is used. In the method in which a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is applied by ink-jet coating, while relatively moving an object to be coated and ejection nozzles, a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is ejected from the minute ejection nozzles in the form of droplets and is attached to the object to be coated. Examples of systems for ejecting a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor from the ejection nozzles include piezoelectric ejection in which a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is pressed out and ejected by a vibration of piezoelectric elements (piezo elements), Bubble Jet (registered trademark) in which voltage is applied to a heater, bubbles are generated in a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, so that the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is ejected, and thermal ink-jet ejection in which voltage is applied to a heater, bubbles are generated in a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, the bubbles are collapsed, so that the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is ejected.
A typical conventional technique is described in JP H11-19554A. In a method for applying a coating solution (a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor) disclosed in JP H11-19554A, a coating solution is applied by ink-jet coating.
As another conventional technique, a technique similar to that in JP H11-19554A is described in Japanese Patent No. 2644582. In a method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2644582, coating is performed by applying a pressure to let a coating material for forming an electrophotographic photoreceptor fly in the form of stripes from a plurality of minute openings continuously.
In ink-jet coating, a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor is ejected in the form of droplets from the minute ejection nozzles each having a size of several tens μm to form a charge-generating layer. Therefore, it is important to perform ejection in a stable manner without causing clogging due to dryness or aggregation of a pigment. Generally, in a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a high viscosity, sedimentation of a pigment tends not to occur and the uniformity can be ensured easily, but ejection performance becomes poor. In a coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a low viscosity, ejection performance can be ensured easily, but sedimentation and aggregation of a pigment tend to occur, which may cause clogging of the nozzles.
In the method for applying a coating solution disclosed in JP H11-19554A, the method uses ink-jet coating, and thus ejected droplets can fly in the form of lines with an extremely high precision, and each of nozzles can be controlled, so that masking is not necessary and the application efficiency is extremely high. Furthermore, the coating solution can be replaced easily only by replacing a tank for storing the coating solution, and the coating composition for an electrophotographic photoreceptor can be used up, so that the production efficiency is extremely high. However, in the coating solution, tetrahydrofuran is used as a solvent. The boiling point of tetrahydrofuran is so low that the solvent volatilizes soon and thus the coating solution is dried in the ejection nozzles, and thus the nozzles are clogged. Furthermore, the uniformity of the film thickness after application (leveling performance) is not sufficient.
In the method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2644582, a pressure is applied to let a coating material for forming an electrophotographic photoreceptor be applied from a plurality of minute openings, and thus the application can be performed onto a large area unlike the application method using ink-jet coating. However, in this method, each of the minute openings cannot be controlled one by one, and there is a time lag between pressure application and ejection since the pump for applying a pressure and the minute openings are connected by a tube, so that both of the precision and the response become poor.

Coating composition for electrophotographic photoreceptor, method for producing electrophotographic photoreceptor, electrophotographic photoreceptor, and image-forming apparatus


A card alignment mechanism for an integrated circuit contact (ICC) card (30) has first and second arms (12,14) biased towards each other about the same pivot point (16) by a spring (24). One arm (12) carries a card read head (18), the other arm (14) carries a card stop lip (20). A solenoid (28) rotates the arms about the pivot point (16); the card stop lip (20) on the second arm (14) contacts the card (30), and the first arm (12) continues to rotate until the spring (24) is fully compressed, when the card read head (18) is correctly positioned with respect to the card. When the mechanism is incorporated in an automated teller machine (ATM), the arms (12,14) can be retracted to their rest position, and the card (30) moved past the mechanism to a card capture bin (45) without restriction.

This invention relates to a reader/writer for an ICC (Integrated Circuit Contact) card having data, such as a card for an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), or a smartcard or electronic purse.
When such a card is initially written and subsequently read, it is essential to have the card positioned accurately with respect to the reader/writer. At present, this is achieved by inserting the blank or written card into a slot until its leading edge touches a stop; the reader/writer contacts can then be lowered onto the ICC area of the card at exactly the required positioned.
When a card is issued to a user, it may then be stolen, or used fraudulently, in which case a financial institution operating a card-reading system, such as an ATM system, or a SmartCard terminal, may wish to capture the card the next time it is used.
It is highly preferable if such a capture can be achieved automatically, with the card retained in e.g. the ATM. With the present construction of card readers in ATMs, the stop for the leading edge of the card is provided by a rear wall of the insertion slot, therefore retention of a card requires physical removal of the rear wall, which can only be achieved by a complex combination of mechanical, electrical, and software controls within the ATM.

Card reader/writer with pivoting read/write contact head


An amplifying module having one input terminal and one output terminal and passing an antenna signal input through the input terminal towards the output terminal. The amplifying module includes a first switch connected to the input terminal, a plurality of filters selectable by the first switch, a plurality of amplifiers respectively connected to the plurality of filters and amplifying a signal that has passed through the filters, and a second switch for connecting the amplified signal to the output terminal.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a technology for amplifying a signal received from an antenna and transmitting the amplified signal to a front end module (FEM), or a transceiver, through a single path.
Description of the Related Art
Data throughput of an electronic device to which Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology is applied (e.g., Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, or the like) may be maximized using multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) technology. In particular, a performance requirement in terms of total radiated sensitivity (TRS) should be satisfied so that the electronic device may perform communication based on the MIMO while maintaining high data throughput.
In general, electronic devices that support LTE communication typically may include one transmission antenna (TX ANT) and two receiving antennas (RX ANT). The two receiving antennas may be classified into a main RX ANT and a sub RX ANT. Here, the sub RX ANT may operate as a diversity antenna, and an electronic device may achieve maximum data throughput by virtue of the signals received through the individual RX paths.
A low-noise amplifier (LNA) is typically used to improve receiving sensitivity or performance of a diversity antenna. However, there is difficulty in obtaining optimum performance of an antenna using an optimized LNA component because a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) such as a transceiver has various structures depending on manufacturers or products and a band to be supported by an electronic device is various.
Furthermore, in the case where an electronic device supports multiple LTE bands, a wiring may be disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) in order to transfer a signal of each frequency band from an antenna (radiator) to a transceiver. This wiring may have a long path according to positions of the antenna and the transceiver. Since various components and wirings should be arranged on the PCB, there is difficulty and it is complicated to design the PCB on which long multiple paths corresponding to multiple bands are arranged.

Diversity amp module and apparatus comprising the same


A thermochromatic element includes a color element and at least one heating element configured to supply heat for the color element such that the color element changes color. The at least one heating element includes at least one carbon nanotube film. Each carbon nanotube film includes a number of carbon nanotube linear units and a number of carbon nanotube groups. Each carbon nanotube linear unit includes a number of carbon nanotubes substantially oriented along a first direction, and are spaced from each other and substantially extending along the first direction. The carbon nanotube groups are combined with the carbon nanotube linear units by van der Waals force. The carbon nanotube groups between adjacent carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other in the first direction.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a thermochromatic element and a thermochromatic display apparatus using the same.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Thermochromatic materials are materials that can change their color in response to changes in temperature. Thermochromatic materials can be used to make a thermochromatic element.
A thermochromatic element, according to the prior art usually includes a support substrate, a thermochromatic material layer located on a surface of the support substrate, and a heater. The heater is used to heat the thermochromatic material layer. The heater is usually made of ceramics, conductive glasses or metals. However, a color change speed of the thermochromatic element is slow because of the relatively high heat capacity per unit and slow heating speed of the heater.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a thermochromatic element having an improved color change speed and thermochromatic display apparatus using the same.

Thermochromatic element and thermochromatic display apparatus

Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., LTD.


A method and system to start an internal combustion engine from rest is disclosed. The engine has intake and exhaust valves in each cylinder in which actuation of such valves is independent of engine rotation. The engine also has a fuel injector and a spark plug disposed in each engine cylinder. The intake and exhaust valves are closed in one engine cylinder; fuel is sprayed into such cylinder; the spark plug is fired in such cylinder. Additionally, a second cylinder is identified in which the intake and exhaust valves are closed, fuel is sprayed, and a spark is fired prior to engine rotation.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,585, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, an internal combustion engine, which can be started from rest without benefit of a starter motor, is disclosed. Conventional engines are equipped with camshaft-actuated intake and exhaust valves. The camshaft or camshafts are gear or belt-driven from the engine's crankshaft. Thus, the camshaft position, and consequently the valve open/close status, is coupled to the crankshaft position. An engine at rest, therefore, has some cylinders with one valve open, some cylinders with both valves closed, and possibly one or more cylinders with both valves open. According to '585, a cylinder, or cylinders, with both valves closed and with the piston in the appropriate position, can be supplied fuel and ignited to initiate engine rotation.
The inventors of the present invention have recognized that an engine with intake and/or exhaust valves coupled to engine rotation, as described in '585, may have at best one cylinder in a favorable position for providing the fuel in the spark. The inventors have further recognized that engine in which the actuation of the valves is decoupled from the rotation of the engine allows control over valve position so that more cylinders can be fueled and ignited to initiate engine rotation more robustly.


An apparatus and method of installing a slide-in refrigeration unit in a vending machine that automatically aligns and seals the refrigeration unit air flow ducts to the refrigerated compartment of the vending machine, is disclosed. A simple assembly guides movement of the refrigeration unit as it is slid backward into the vending machine so as to identically align a pair of mating inclined surfaces of a duct connector assembly into sealing engagement, to automatically effect air flow communication between the refrigeration unit and the refrigerated compartment. The refrigeration unit installation is completed by simple securing the slid-in unit to the floor of the vending machine with several screws or bolts.

Vending machines have become commonplace in today's societies. Depending upon the nature of the product(s) being dispensed or stored therein, such machines often require refrigeration systems to cool or provide freezing temperatures to all or a portion of the interior volume of the machine. Such refrigeration may be achieved by a number of techniques such as by common refrigeration units of the nature generally found in home refrigerators, by heat pumps, or the like. Such refrigeration units are typically mounted in the lower portion of the vending machine. Further since it is often difficult to move a vending machine for servicing, most vending machine refrigeration units are accessed through the front door or panel(s) of the machine.
It is important to be able to easily and rapidly service and maintain vending machines. Lost down time on the machine and excessive service/repair time rapidly deplete the revenues gained by the machine. Further, with regard to refrigeration units, it is important to rapidly complete the servicing in order to prevent possible spoilage or damage to the inventory/contents of the machine that may occur over extended servicing intervals. In the event of refrigeration unit failure, the most expedient service technique has typically been to remove and replace the entire refrigeration unit with an operable unit and to take the failed unit to a refrigeration expert for repair. However, removal and replacement of the refrigeration units in prior art vending machine configurations have been difficult and time-consuming operations.
The refrigeration units on most vending machines blow cooled air through an outlet duct of the refrigeration unit into a duct system or inlet of the vending machine cavity. In order to maximize cooling efficiency, it is important to create and maintain a tight seal between the refrigeration unit's outlet duct and the inlet duct system of the vending machine's cooled cavity. Prior art techniques have required cumbersome means for achieving the seal, making removal and replacement of a failed refrigeration unit a labor intensive and time consuming endeavor. For example, some systems require their refrigeration units to be laterally and longitudinally aligned with and positioned below the vending machine duct/inlet and then vertically lifted into and held in sealing engagement with the vending machine duct/inlet while appropriate fastening means, such as bolts we used to secure the unit in place. Besides the complexity of such operation, which can easily lead to damage of the seal members, the heavy weight of the refrigeration unit makes this operation all the more difficult. Others, require the entire vending machine to be pulled out from its normal operative position for removal of side panels to adequately access and service the refrigeration unit. In the case of a fully loaded beverage dispensing machine, this may also require unloading of the machine contents before it can be safely moved. If the vending machine is one that houses frozen or semi-frozen items, the removed items may require independent refrigeration or be susceptible to spoilage or damage. Still other vending machines use ductless refrigeration units that house the evaporator portion of the refrigeration unit directly inside the cooled chamber. In such configurations the evaporator unit is susceptible to direct damage from falling items in the cooled chamber. Further, such configurations require opening of the entire cooled chamber for repair or replacement of the evaporator unit, which can be a very difficult task.
The present invention addresses the prior art problems associated with the servicing of vending machine refrigeration units, by providing a vending machine refrigeration unit design that enables rapid, efficient and easy removal and replacement of the refrigeration unit in a manner that provides for self-alignment of air ducts and seals, minimizes seal damage, and provides for uniform and consistent correct placement of the refrigeration assembly relative to the vending machine, that provides for tight seals.

Self-sealing vending machine refrigeration apparatus


The method of making the clear cell lysate containing plasmid DNA from a biomass obtained in a cell culture process includes filtering the biomass obtained in the cell culture process with a filter medium in the presence of diatomaceous earth acting as a filtering agent to form a filter cake containing the biomass and the filter medium, then thermally digesting the biomass in the filter cake to form a cell lysate containing the plasmid DNA and filtering the cell lysate to form a clear filtrate. The clear filtrate contains the plasmid DNA and has a clarity characterized by an OD600 of at maximum 0.05 U/cm.

The present invention relates to a method for the integrated treatment of biomass from a cell culture process for producing clear cell lysate containing plasmid DNA, and a plasmid DNA cell lysate produced by the method.
Treatment is to be understood as meaning a conditioning method for providing clear cell lysate containing plasmid DNA. An integrated method is to be understood as meaning a method in which the individual steps of the method are contiguous with one another so that the product stream is conveyed virtually continuously. The basically multistage method can be carried out continuously or batchwise.
The separation of biological material from a cell culture process, the digestion of the biological material and the production of a clear cell lysate containing plasmid DNA is a customary method in the area of molecular biology. In the known methods, biological material, for example comprising E. coli bacteria cells, is separated from the culture supernatant, resuspended and then digested. Separating off the solid constituents gives a clear cell lysate which contains the plasmid DNA in addition to genomic DNA, RNA, proteins and endotoxins.
It is known that biological materials can be separated from the cell culture process by batchwise or continuous centrifuging. The separation of baker's yeast cells by filtration over a bed of filtering agent is described in GB-A-1082862. Said patent also discloses the separation of cell residues from a yeast autolysate by means of a filtering agent.
The customary methods for cell digestion are the known alkaline lysis and thermal lysis. In order to improve the cell digestion, enzymes, for example lysozyme, and/or detergents are frequently added to the cell suspension. In the alkaline lysis method, a precipitate which substantially contains the cell debris and parts of the genomic DNA and of the protein is obtained after the cell digestion at pH 12 by addition of sodium hydroxide solution and sodium dodecylsulphate and subsequent neutralization with a high molecular weight acetate buffer. The complete isolation of this precipitate can be achieved only by thorough centrifuging. A centrifugal acceleration of 12000 g is not sufficient for this purpose (I. Feliciello et al., Anal. Biochem. 212 (1993) 394-401). The precipitate can be very substantially isolated only at a centrifugal acceleration of 26000 g for 30 minutes at 4° C. On the other hand, the filtration of this precipitate is associated with low process rates and large losses of plasmid DNA, even with the aid of very fine filtering agents or in combination with a flotation step. The adsorption of plasmid DNA on the surface of the filtering agent contributes considerably to the losses. In particular, plasmid DNA binds very rapidly and strongly to such mineral surfaces if the concentration of divalent cations exceeds 0.1 mmol or the monovalent cations exceed 20 mmol in the case of potassium or 50 mmol in the case of sodium (G. Romanowski et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57 (1991) 1057-1061).
High molecular weight nucleic acids are sensitive to hear forces. Strong shear forces can lead to irreversible damage to nucleic acids, in particular to breaks in the strand. For this reason, mechanical digestion methods are seldom used for nucleic acid treatment (A. Carlson et al., Biotechnol. Bioeng. 48 (1995) 303-315). It is also known that, in industrial centrifuges with continuous introduction of liquid, high shear forces at the rotor inlet act on the nucleic acids and inevitably lead to breaks in the strand.
WO 96/36706 describes a method in which microorganisms are digested in the presence of detergents (Triton®) and by heating to 70° C. to 1000° C. in a flow-through heat exchanger. This is a combination method comprising thermolysis and with a detergent (optionally with lysozyme). In the absence of lysozyme, a thermal treatment for 30 seconds is described; in the presence of lysozyme, a thermal treatment for 6 seconds is described. On cell digestion by heating, solid compounds comprising debris, genomic DNA and proteins form. In addition, very substantial denaturing of DNA-degrading enzymes, so-called DNases, may be assumed as a result of the heat treatment. A clear cell lysate is obtained after batchwise centrifuging. In this method, only the cell digestion is carried out continuously, the solid constituents being separated off batchwise by centrifuging. In order to obtain the final clear cell lysate, a filtration over a membrane filter also had to be carried out after the centrifuging.
According to WO 92/207863 an apparatus and a method for isolation of nucleic acids from cell suspensions are known. According to this, the cells are immobilized in the cavities of an upstream, porous matrix in the form of a layer. This is achieved by deep filtration in the matrix, by virtue of the fact that the cavity size is of the order of magnitude of the cells and the matrix surface has ion exchange properties. The particle size of the matrix is 10 to 50 μm. Owing to the ion exchange properties, DNA is adsorbed on the matrix surface. The invention does not relate to adsorption of DNA. The known method gives purified DNA but not a clear cell lysate containing plasmid DNA.
EP-A-0814156 describes a method for purifying DNA. The kieselguhrs used therein are not specified. The lysis is affected by the alkaline method. Thermal lysis is not described.
The prior art thus discloses neither methods which make it possible to work up large amounts of biomass in an integrated manner nor methods by means of which large amounts of clear cell lysates containing plasmid DNA can be provided by an integrated procedure.
There is a need for an efficient conditioning method for providing clear cell lysate containing plasmid DNA from a cell culture process which permits plasmid DNA purification.

Method for treating biomass for producing cell lysate containing plasmid DNA


In general, a flush toilet with a built-in clog removal system is described. In one embodiment, the disclosed toilet is defined by: a bowl connected to an drain pipe; at least one one-way valve positioned pipe; and a pump in fluid communication with the pipe so that (a) initiating the pump to force the piston downward or upward causes fluid-flow in the pipe so that the one-way valve closes or opens as a result of pressure or a vacuum against debris clogging the drain.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is in the field of flush toilets.
2. Background of the Invention
Toilets are sanitation fixtures used for the disposal of waste, including human excrement and urine. Flush toilets are a common type of toilet that are defined by a bowl that is connected to a hollow and upside-down "U" shaped drain pipe plus a reservoir of water for rapidly filling the bowl. Flushing is accomplished by causing a rapid influx of water from the reservoir into the bowl so that a siphon of water and waste is created through the drain.
Occasionally, drains become clogged. Modern flush toilets are particularly susceptible to clogging because the same are designed to use less water per flush (toilets that use less water are dubbed "eco-friendly"). Various apparatus and methodologies are known for unclogging toilets. One popular apparatus is a plunger, which consists of a rubber cup at the end of a shaft. In operation, the cup may be pushed over the mouth of the clogged drain until the cup is flattened so that, when pulled out, a vacuum is created within the drain to disrupt the clog.
Although useful for unclogging drains, plungers have a few unsatisfactory aspects. For instance, plungers are unsanitary because they frequently contact waste (e.g., fecal matter or urine). Also, plunging can cause splashing of the waste outside of the toilet bowl or on the user. Furthermore, plungers are not always available for unclogging a toilet and their acquisition can be compromising or embarrassing. Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus and related methodologies for unclogging a toilet drain without the unsatisfactory aspects of plungers.

Flush toilet with built-in unclogging system and related methods


Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and system for a method for implementing a mutual-exclusion semantic for target update, the method comprising: receiving a tagset update request for a tagset associated with an object, the tagset update request comprising one or more metadata tags to be updated; determining whether updating the tagset based on the received tagset update request would cause a value of any existing metadata tag in the tagset to change; and in response to determining that updating the tagset based on the received tagset update request would cause a value of at least one existing metadata tag in the tagset to change, rejecting the tagset update request.

A data storage system may enable client devices to regularly back up data to a networked storage through a communications network environment, and in the event of data loss or corruption, to restore the data.
Metadata is data describing other data. Examples of metadata may include the file owner, size, creation time, and so on.

Set-based mutual exclusion using object metadata tags in a storage appliance


Methods and compositions are disclosed for predicting and treating the clinical benefit to a human renal cell carcinoma patient prior to their treatment with a VEGFR inhibitor and an Ang2 inhibitor.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer and responsible for approximately 80% of the kidney cancer that occur in adults. RCC represents approximately 5% of all cancer deaths and, at the time of presentation, over 50% of the patients have already developed locally advanced or metastatic disease with 5-year survival rates of less than 20%. Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in RCC tumor progression. Nascent and small tumors can obtain sufficient oxygen and nutrients to sustain their growth by simple diffusion. Beyond a diameter of 1 to 2 mm, however, diffusion cannot provide these elements in the amounts required for further growth. For growth beyond that size, all tumors require a vasculature, whatever their cause, origin, type, age, or location. Thus, tumor growth beyond a diameter of 1 to 2 mm requires angiogenesis. Angiogenesis, accordingly, has been seen as a promising target for developing an effective general treatment for tumors.
Three principal mechanisms play an important part in the activity of angiogenesis inhibitors against tumors: (i) inhibition of the growth of vessels, especially capillaries, into avascular resting tumors, with the result that there is no net tumor growth owing to the balance that is achieved between cell death and proliferation; (ii) prevention of the migration of tumor cells owing to the absence of blood flow to and from tumors; and (iii) inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, thus avoiding the paracrine growth-stimulating effect exerted on the surrounding tissue by the endothelial cells which normally line the vessels. See R. Connell and J. Beebe, Exp. Opin. Ther. Patents, 11:77-114 (2001).
Although many signal transduction systems have been implicated in the regulation of angiogenesis, one of the best-characterized and most endothelial cell-selective systems involves the Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase (NCBI Reference No. NP—000450.2; referred to as "Tie2" or "Tie2R" (also referred to as "ORK"); murine Tie2 is also referred to as "tek") and its ligands, the angiopoietins (Gale, N. W. and Yancopoulos, G. D., Genes Dev. 13:1055-1066 [1999]). There are 4 known angiopoietins; angiopoietin-1 ("Ang1") through angiopoietin-4 ("Ang4"). These angiopoietins are also referred to as "Tie2 ligands."
Yet another important factor associated with tumor angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is a dimeric, disulfide-linked 46-kDa glycoprotein related to "Platelet-Derived Growth Factor" (PDGF); it is produced by normal cell lines and tumor cell lines; is an endothelial cell-specific mitogen; shows angiogenic activity in in vivo test systems (e.g. rabbit cornea); is chemotactic for endothelial cells and monocytes; and induces plasminogen activators in endothelial cells, which are involved in the proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix during the formation of capillaries. A number of isoforms of VEGF are known, which show comparable biological activity, but differ in the type of cells that secrete them and in their heparin-binding capacity. In addition, there are other members of the VEGF family, such as "Placental Growth Factor" (PLGF) and VEGF-C. VEGF receptors (VEGFR) are transmembranous receptor tyrosine kinases. They are characterized by an extracellular domain with seven immunoglobulin-like domains and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. Various types of VEGF receptor are known, e.g. VEGFR-1 (also known as flt-1), VEGFR-2 (also known as KDR), and VEGFR-3.
What is needed in the art is a method of predicting which human RCC patients have an increased likelihood of obtaining clinical benefit from treatment with a combination of a VEGFR inhibitor and an Ang2 inhibitor. The present invention provides this as well as other benefits.

Predictive biomarker of survival in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma


The structure and method of forming a notched gate MOSFET disclosed herein addresses such problems as device reliability. A gate dielectric (e.g. gate oxide) is formed on the surface of an active area on the semiconductor substrate, preferably defined by an isolation trench region. A layer of polysilicon is then deposited on the gate dielectric. This step is followed by depositing a layer of silicon germanium) (SiGe). The sidewalls of the polysilicon layer are then laterally etched, selective to the SiGe layer to create a notched gate conductor structure, with the SiGe layer being broader than the underlying polysilicon layer. Sidewall spacers are preferably formed on sidewalls of the SiGe layer and the polysilicon layer. A silicide layer is preferably formed as a self-aligned silicide from a polysilicon layer deposited over the SiGe layer, to reduce resistance of the gate conductor. One or more other processing steps (e.g. source and drain implants, extension implants, and pocket lightly doped drain (LDD) implants), gate conductor stack doping, and silicidation are preferably performed in completing the transistor.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor processing method and structure, and more specifically to a notched gate field effect transistor having a plurality of different material semiconductor layers in which an underlying layer is etched selective to a material of an overlying layer to create a notched gate transistor structure for enhanced performance.
A metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) includes an insulated gate having one or more gate conductor layers overlying a gate dielectric layer, over a substrate of single crystal semiconductor. The gate conductor usually includes a layer of polysilicon material, and the gate dielectric layer is often composed of an oxide such as silicon dioxide when the substrate is silicon. A metal silicide layer is usually formed over the polysilicon layer to reduce the resistance of the gate conductor. Sometimes an overlying metal layer (e.g. tungsten) forms part of the gate conductor.
The MOSFET is electrically isolated from other integrated circuit devices within the semiconductor substrate by isolation structures, e.g. shallow trench isolations. The area between shallow trench isolations determines the active device area within the semiconductor substrate in which MOSFETs, and possibly other devices are fabricated.
On either side of the gates of MOSFETs, source-drain regions as well as source-drain extensions regions are formed within the substrate. The MOSFET source-drain extensions are shallow regions having shallow junctions to minimize short-channel effects. The source-drain extensions are usually lightly doped, as opposed to source-drain regions, which are more heavily doped regions. In general, doped regions are regions that contain a higher concentration of P-type or N-type dopants than the substrate.
An important objective, long recognized in the advancement of integrated circuit (IC) technology, is the scaling-down of IC dimensions. Such scaling-down of IC dimensions reduces component and signal line capacitance and is critical to obtaining higher speed performance of integrated circuits. Moreover, reducing the area of an IC die leads to higher yield in IC fabrication. Such advantages are a driving force to constantly scale down IC dimensions and create even smaller MOSFET designs as a basic building block of the IC. As the dimensions of MOSFETs are scaled down to tens of nanometers, however, the parasitic capacitance due to overlap of the gate dielectric over the drain extension and the source extension, known as the "Miller capacitance, becomes significant in limiting the speed performance of the MOSFET, as is known to those skilled in the art. As one way of solving this particular problem, notched gate structures are formed. MOSFETs having notched gates have gate conductors in which a lower layer is etched to become narrower. In such manner, the length of the transistor channel is reduced, thereby leading to increased on current and improved device performance.
A problem often encountered in the fabrication of notched gate structures, however, stems from the issues created when the length of gate conductor is reduced. Since the width of the gate conductor determines the corresponding length of the transistor channel, the transistor channel length when reduced horizontally, is also reduced in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the vertical thickness of the shallow source-drain extension regions must also be reduced. However, controlling the vertical thickness of the shallow source-drain extensions requires precise control of dopant distribution on a fine scale, which is becoming prohibitively difficult within the limitations and reliability considerations for the design of notched gate and other gate conductor structures.
In most instances, the design of notched gates is dependent on the reliability of the gate dielectric that is used. Unfortunately, the available gate dielectrics are not proven to be reliable to provide consistent and uniform dielectric strength, low leakage, and protection against premature breakdown. Therefore, a new structure and method is sought for providing MOSFETs having notched gates.

Structure and method of forming a notched gate field effect transistor

International Business Machines Corporation


A diamond-like carbon-containing material useful as a coating for electronic devices including field emission devices and color television tubes, the coatings having both low secondary electron emission coefficients of less than unity and electrical resistivity tunable over a range of from about 10exe2x88x922 to about 10e16.

The present invention relates to the field of diamond-like carbon-containing coatings, products coated with such coatings, and the use of such coatings on electronic devices and coatings on components for such devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to dielectric diamond-like carbon-containing coatings, comprising an amorphous matrix, that possess low secondary electron emission coefficients, coated on various substrate materials, such as electrical displays. The coatings are xe2x80x9ctunablexe2x80x9d with respect to electrical conductivity/resistivity.
Field emission displays (FEDs) are a type of thin, lightweight, flat panel information display. These displays are, in effect, flat cathode ray tubes that use matrix-addressed cold cathodes to produce light from a cathodoluminescent phosphor screen. FEDs consists of a field emission array, dielectric spacers, and a phosphor-coated (monochrome or color) faceplate with matrix-addressable electronics. The field emission array comprises electron emitters, each smaller than an individual pixel, that might employ gate electrodes. The electron emitter material may be shaped in any geometrical configuration (e.g. shaft tip, line edge, plane, etc.). Electrons are emitted into a vacuum when an electric field of sufficient strength is applied to the emitter material. The electrons are accelerated to an electron target such as the phosphor-coated screen. The phosphor then luminesces and the pixel xe2x80x9cturns onxe2x80x9d.
FEDs employ high voltage spacers, typically comprising dielectric materials such as ceramics, glass, or high temperature plastics to separate the emitting plate from the phosphor plate. The spacing between the emitter and the phosphor is very small (about 1-10 mm) and is critical to optimal display performance. The spacers must meet several requirements, such as high dielectric strength, resistance to surface flashover, low secondary electron emission, low leakage current, ability to dissipate electrostatic charge, and good mechanical strength. In addition, these materials must maintain these properties under high energy electron bombardment for extended periods. In operation, many dielectric materials are prone to surface flashover, dielectric breakdown, and poor electronic control. It has been exceedingly difficult in the field to find a material which meets the above requirements, especially the control of secondary electron emission and charging.
Dielectric spacers are used in field emission displays (FEDs) to separate the anode faceplate (screen) from the cathode material. Preferably, such spacers must possess a high dielectric strength (greater than about 106 V/cm), high electrical resistance (from about 10+8 to about 10+11 ohm-cm), high resistance to flashover, good thermal conductivity and resistance to arcing damage. Furthermore, the structural and chemical properties of the spacers must not change throughout the operational lifetime of the display (greater than about 10,000 hours).
Presently, dielectric spacers are most commonly made from bulk substrate materials, such as glass and ceramics. These materials satisfy the FEDs"" dielectric strength requirements but have limited ranges of electrical resistivity and have secondary electron emission coefficients (SEEC) typically much greater than unity (greater than 1.0), for example 2.0 to 3.5. Primary electron refer to electrons from a source, such as an electron beam, which impact a substrate surface. Secondary electron emission refers to the electrons which are emitted from a substrate surface after being impacted by primary electrons. The secondary electron emission coefficient (SEEC) is a ratio value representing the average number of secondary electrons emitted from a bombarded substrate surface for every incident primary electron on the substrate surface.
A material which meets the dielectric strength requirements for desired electrical applications, including use with FEDs, and which also has electrical resistivity values that can be predictably altered, or xe2x80x9ctunedxe2x80x9d, while also having a SEEC value of less than unity (less than 1.0), is presently unknown, but would be advantageous. The present invention relates to the unexpected results that the present coatings are much thinner than those known and provide a low secondary electron emission coefficient of less than about 1.0, while maintaining all other desirable properties, and providing for high productivity and lower cost.
Such a material as described above would also benefit other applications. Color picture tubes use either perforated shadow masks or grilles with vertical slits to direct electron trajectory to an electron target, typically a phosphor coated screen. Electrons from the tube""s electron guns pass through the mask or grille and are directed at slightly different angles to excite a red, blue, or green phosphor. Precise alignment of the electron beams is required to achieve sharp images with high contrast. Some fraction of the electrons typically fall on the mask or grille and generate secondary electrons. This may result in defocusing of the image-forming beam due to its interaction with the secondary electrons which have uncontrolled trajectories. Higher resolution images and enhanced brightness and contrast can be achieved if the production of secondary electrons is suppressed or eliminated.
Carbon-containing coatings have been applied to electrical components that are bombarded by electrons. Carbon has many distinct phases, for example, diamond, graphite, soot, etc. Each of these carbon phases has a different secondary electron emission coefficient, or SEEC, for example diamond=2.8; graphite=1.0; and soot=0.45. Certain applications, including electronic displays or other component parts incorporated into electronics under vacuum, require coatings or substrate materials having a SEEC of a specified value. Many electronics applications require coatings having extremely low SEEC values, for example,  less than 1.0 in combination with other properties such as durability, adhesion and smoothness. Certain C:H and Si:C thin films have been attempted for use with high frequency waveguides. Such films as reported by Groudeva-Zotova et al. (Diamond and Related Materials, Vol. 5, No. 10, 1987), have low SEEC values in the energy range of from 250-2000eV. The SEEC on these films is very sensitive to film composition and morphology. Also they must be annealed to lower the SEEC. Finally, the electrical resistivity cannot be tailored. In addition, coatings containing graphite in the form of Aquadag (Acheson Colloids, Port Huron, Mich., vacuum pyrolyzed graphite, and lamp black deposited by electrophoresis, have been used on high frequency electronic devices to prevent multi-pactor discharges (surface flashover). However, these films often must be applied at paint thicknesses of from 10 xcexcm to over 100 xcexcm. This creates adhesion problems and other limitations adversely affecting electrical tailorability, durability, stability and smoothness. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,431 discloses a 0.5 to 2.0 micron thick two network nanocomposite film having a high thermal conductivity and low secondary emission used as a protective coating on the grids of color TV tubes. However, such thick coatings are not only unnecessary, but are also disadvantageous for display applications. Coatings at such thicknesses have a high cost, lower overall productivity due to long deposition times, and low equipment efficiency. Such a thick film coating may also cause variations in critical physical dimensions of the substrate.
As a result, low SEEC coatings which can be applied at required thicknesses and which have no adhesion problem are not known. Coatings for electronic components, especially FEDs and cathode ray tubes, which have both a low SEEC (of less than about unity, i.e. less than about 1.0) and which have superior adhesion and are electrically tunable over a broad range would be highly advantageous.
The present invention relates to electrical devices having improved performance. Such devices comprise components having coatings made from materials that have low secondary electron emission coefficients, preferably less than about one. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the coating materials with SEECs less than about 1.0 further are electrically tunable, in terms of resistance, over a range of from 10xe2x88x922 to 1016 ohm-cm. and display their low SEEC value of less than about 1.0 over an electron energy range of from about 80 to about 10,000 eV.
In a further embodiment, the present invention is directed to a display comprising an electron target substrate and an electron source on one side of the substrate and a coating on the same side of the substrate as the electron source. In one preferred embodiment the electron target is a generally transparent substrate.
In a further embodiment, the present invention is directed to a device having an electron source and a target arranged so that electrons from the source impinge on the target, and a passive element. The target and passive element and source are positioned so that electrons from the source may impinge on the passive element, and secondary electrons emitted from the passive element impinge on the target. The surface of the passive element has a coating comprising carbon and silicon for reducing the secondary electron emission coefficient of the surface to less than about one. The target optionally comprises the coating. The coating is preferably deposited at a thickness of from about 0.02 to about 0.15 microns.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the source comprises an electron gun and the target comprises an electroluniinescent screen.
A still further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an electrical device such as, for example a display device including a field emission display or a color television tube comprising a coating comprising carbon and silicon on a surface for reducing the secondary electron emission coefficient of the surface to less than about one.
A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of improving the performance of an electrical device comprising providing an electrical device comprising an electron source, an electron target and a passive element, positioning the source, the target and the passive element so that electrons from the source may impinge on the passive element, and secondary electrons emitted from the passive element impinge on the target, and depositing on the passive element a coating comprising carbon and silicon on a surface of the passive element for reducing the secondary electron emission coefficient of the surface to less than about one.
In another embodiment, the present invention comprises an electrical component in a device comprising a substrate and a coating made from a material having a SEEC value less than or close to unity. Preferably the SEEC value of the coating is in a range of from about 1.0 to about 0.45, more preferably from about 0.9 to about 0.45, and most preferably from about 0.90 to about 0.80. The coating is further preferably electrically tunable over a range of from about 10xe2x88x922 to 1016 ohm-cm, and more preferably from about 106 to about 1010 ohm-cm.
In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a diamond-like material comprising carbon, hydrogen, silicon and oxygen. Optionally, the material further comprises dopant elements or dopant compounds comprising elements from Groups 1-7b of the periodic table.
In a still further embodiment, the invention relates to an electronic device display comprising a substrate and a coating having a low secondary electron emission coefficient, preferably less than unity, and that is tunable in terms of electrical resistivity over a wide range, such as about 10xe2x88x922 to about 1016 ohm-cm.
Still further, the present invention relates to a method of improving the performance of an electrical component display, especially a flat panel display comprising providing an electrical component and coating the component with a material having a secondary electron emission coefficient less than unity.

Electrically tunable low secondary electron emission diamond-like coatings and process for depositing coatings


A pinball game comprises a cabinet, an inclined playfield, and a video display. The inclined playfield supports a rolling ball and a plurality of play features thereon. The cabinet includes a pair of opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between the opposing side walls. The playfield is housed within the cabinet such that the playfield is partially encompassed by the side walls and rear wall of the cabinet. An upper portion of the rear cabinet wall extends above a level of a rear portion of the playfield. The video display is mounted to this upper portion of the rear cabinet wall and is located in close proximity to the rear portion of the playfield. By mounting the display to the rear cabinet wall in close proximity to the playfield, the display can be easily viewed by a player during game play and, yet, allows the playfield to be easily serviced for maintenance and troubleshooting purposes without interference from the display. For maximum clarity of images shown on the display, the angle between a front surface of the display and an upper surface of the playfield is preferably such that the front surface of the display is generally perpendicular to a sight line extending between the display and a typical player.

Pinball games generally include an inclined playfield housed within a game cabinet and supporting a rolling ball (i.e., pinball). A generally vertical backbox extends upward from a rear portion of the game cabinet and houses both a video display and game control circuitry. A plurality of play features are arranged on the playfield. A game player uses a pair of mechanical flippers mounted at one end of the playfield to propel the rolling ball at the various play features on the playfield to score points and control the play of the game.
The video display generally shows player scores and provides special effects and suggestions to a player in response to certain events occurring on the playfield during game play. The special effects and suggestions on the display are intended to enhance the appeal of the pinball game. For example, the game control circuitry may cause the display to show an explosion in response to the rolling ball actuating a particular switch on the playfield. Switches are generally associated with the play features such that a play feature switch is actuated in response to the rolling ball impacting the associated play feature. The game control circuitry generally causes a sound generator to generate sounds consistent with the special effects and suggestions shown on the display.
A drawback of mounting the video display in the backbox is that the display is largely segregated from the playfield. Consequently, during game play, a player must divert his or her eyes away from events occurring on the playfield in order to view the scores, special effects, and suggestions provided by the display. Since keeping the rolling ball on the playfield and scoring points is generally of paramount concern to the player, the player may give minimal regard to the scores, special effects, and suggestions on the display. If the player misses some of the scores, special effects, and suggestions on the display due to its segregation from the playfield, the purpose of the display is defeated to some extent.
An alternative to mounting the display in the backbox is to mount the display in the rear center of the playfield, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,286 to Seitz et al. Although the in-playfield display of Seitz can be viewed by a game player while also viewing events occurring on the playfield, the in-playfield display of Seitz somewhat interferes with the ability to easily service the playfield for maintenance and troubleshooting purposes. A service technician who wishes to gain full access to electrical and/or mechanical components beneath the playfield must first disconnect electrical wiring joining the display to a power supply beneath the playfield. Moreover, the display of Seitz faces a generally upward direction such that any images shown on the display may be obscured.


Curable polyorganosiloxanes prepared using a base-catalyzed equilibration reaction involving at least one organosiloxane are treated with a composition that includes a triorganohalosilane to neutralize the catalyst. The silane can be used alone or in combination with other Lewis acids. Curable compositions containing polyorganosiloxanes prepared using the present method exhibit improved thermal stability relative to compositions containing polyorganosiloxanes prepared using prior art neutralizing agents.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the preparation of polyorganosiloxanes. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for neutralizing polyorganosiloxanes prepared by a base-catalyzed equilibration of at least one lower molecular weight organosiloxane. This invention also relates to curable organosiloxane compositions containing these polyorganosiloxanes.
2. Background Information
A conventional method for preparing organosiloxane homopolymers and copolymers is by polymerization of at least one lower molecular weight linear or cyclic organosiloxane in the presence of an alkaline catalyst such as an alkali metal hydroxide or silanolate. The resultant copolymer is then treated with a Lewis acid such as a mineral or carboxylic acid to neutralize the catalyst.
The present invention is based on the discovery that the reagent used to neutralize the polymerization catalyst has a substantial effect on the heat stability of gels and elastomers prepared from the resultant polymer.
The prior art describes a variety of Lewis acids suitable for use in neutralizing the catalyst following completion of a base catalyzed polymerization or equilibration of cyclic and/or linear polyorganosiloxanes. The use of halosilanes is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,684, which issued on Feb. 10, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,104, which issued on Aug. 31, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,624, which issued on Jun. 9, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,888, which issued on Jul. 27, 1982. In all of these patents the halosilane can contain from 0 to 3 hydrocarbon radicals bonded to the silicon atom. The halosilane exemplified in all of these patents is dimethyldichlorosilane and the polyorganosiloxane is a dipolyorganosiloxane.
Gels and elastomers prepared by curing compositions containing a polyorganosiloxane, a silane or siloxane containing silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms or hydrolyzable groups such as alkoxy and a suitable curing catalyst are used as potting compounds, coatings and encapsulants in a variety of applications. Some of these applications require that the cured organosiloxane material maintain its initial properties, particularly hardness and flexibility, during exposure under adverse conditions of heat and/or moisture.
One objective of this invention is to improve the thermal stability of polyorganosiloxanes in general and alkenyl-containing organosiloxane copolymers in particular.
A second objective of this invention is to improve the long-term heat stability of gels prepared by the reaction of an alkenyl-substituted polyorganosiloxanes and an organohydrogensiloxane in the presence of a hydrosilation catalyst. The heat stability of organosiloxane gels can be determined by plotting the distance to which a given weight will depress the surface of the gel, also referred to as the penetration value of the gel, as a function of exposure time to a given temperature.

Neutralization of polyorganosiloxanes using triorganosilanes and curable compositions containing said polyorganosiloxanes


There is provided an information processing apparatus which is capable of accurately setting the present time by acquiring time information without using a dedicated time acquisition program and at low costs. The information processing apparatus manages counter information indicating output states of image forming apparatuses connected thereto via a network. The information processing apparatus transmits an e-mail addressed to itself and receives the same e-mail, and then sets the present time based on the time of the transmission of the e-mail, and the time of reception of the e-mail by a server connected to the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus connected to a network on which a server capable of processing e-mails exists, and capable of transmitting/receiving e-mails, and more particularly relates to an information processing apparatus which does not include an RTC (real time clock), and a method for managing counter information of the information processing apparatus and a program for implementing the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in many apparatuses designed to carry out an specific operation at a specified time, a battery with a small capacity is integrated into the apparatus, and even when the main power supply is off, a real time clock (RTC) is kept operating for a sustained update of the present time, and enables the apparatus to carry out the specific operation according to the predetermined schedule after the main power supply is turned on again.
For example, a printing apparatus has been known which corrects its own time by obtaining time information from an information processing apparatus (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H09-200419).
On the other hand, among this type of apparatuses, a computer connected to a network can obtain time information using various types of time obtaining programs such as one using NTP (Network Time Protocol) or the RSYNC from a server.
Alternatively, in the case of an information processing apparatus does not include an RTC, the apparatus may force a user to set a time on its startup, or may start counting time elapsed from an initialized time such as "00:00 a.m. Jan. 1, 1970", which is stored in the apparatus. For example, in the case of an information processing apparatus having a communication function such as one based on the Internet or the GPS, the apparatus acquires time using this communication function.
However, in the case where the apparatus itself incorporates a battery serving as a power supply, the cost increases and a countermeasure is also necessary against a battery exhaustion. Additionally, necessity of a battery replacement places a restriction on the packaging of the apparatus.
Further, in the case where the apparatus forces a user to set a time on its startup, a means for setting the time is required.
Still further, in the case where the information processing apparatus resets its time to an initialized time on its startup due to unavailability of an RTC, the time stored in the information processing apparatus is reset every time the apparatus starts.
Still further, in the case where the information processing apparatus acquires time using a communication function, time cannot be obtained if the communication function fails.
In addition, a system has been known in which a charge on a user is calculated based on the number of output sheets for a predetermined time period on the terminal installed in the user side. This system, however, can suffer from the problem that if time information accompanying counter information as charge information obtained from the terminal installed in the user side is incorrect, the user will be charged an incorrect amount. Therefore, this type of maintenance/management system for an image forming apparatuses described above is required to manage time more precisely.

Information processing apparatus capable of accurately setting present time, and information processing method for the information processing apparatus, and program for implementing the method


A bottle cap capable of being opened by one press, comprising a bottle mouth (11) and a bottle cap (1), and further comprising a positioning ring (3), a fixing ring (10), and an oval elastic snap ring (8). A slot (13) is provided between the positioning ring (3) and the fixing ring (10); the two major axis ends of the elastic snap ring (8) are located in the slot (13); either of the two major axis ends of the elastic snap ring (8) is provided with a press piece (7); a groove (12) is circumferentially formed on the side wall of the bottle mouth (11) at a position corresponding to the elastic snap ring (8); the two minor axis ends of the elastic snap ring (8) are located in the groove (12) to lock the connection of the bottle cap (1) to the bottle mouth (11), and are configured to stretch as the press piece (7) is pressed, so as to disengage from the groove (12) and enter the slot (13), thereby unlocking the connection of the bottle cap (1) to the bottle mouth (11).

Drinking water bottle cap is a topic that few people have opened. In modern society, the life rhythm of people is fast, and even if people drink water, people can make the pursuit of simplicity, convenience and quickness. Therefore, a wide variety of water cups and matched functional bottle caps capable of conveniently and rapidly drinking water are also developed.
A bottle cap in the current market is mainly of a buckle type or spiral structure. A spiral structure generally needs to fix a bottle body by one hand, the bottle cap can be opened only by rotating the bottle cap by one hand, and the operation is complex and labor-consuming; the buckle type structure generally needs to fix the bottle body by one hand, the other hand is buckled with the buckle to be connected, the operation is more labor-consuming, and water in the bottle can be easily splashed out instantly when the bottle cap is opened, so that waste is caused; due to the fact that a large counter-acting force generated at the moment of opening of the bottle cap is easy to damage the fingers, and the safety is low.

Bottle cap capable of being opened by one press


A marketing system selectively modifies an existing telephone network by modifying a portion of the call processing software of the existing telephone network and by replacing at least a portion of an audible call progress signal generated by the telephone network by a prerecorded announcement. A calling party places a telephone call at a first telephone to a second telephone having a particular calling status. Once the call is made, a switch or an associated network signaling system determines the busy/idle status of the second telephone. In place of the usual ringback or busy signal, an announcement indicates to the calling party the status of the second telephone and a series of announcements are played for a predetermined period of time. During the announcements, the system continues to determine the status of the telephone line of the second telephone. The announcements are played until the call is completed or abandoned.

The present invention relates to a telephone marketing system and, more particularly, to a telephone marketing system for selectively modifying an existing telephone network by replacing at least a portion of an audible call progress signal generated by the telephone network by a prerecorded announcement and by modifying a portion of the existing call processing software of the telephone network.
Most conventional telephone networks provide a calling party with an audible ringback signal when an intended called party's telephone line is idle, and a busy signal when the intended called party's telephone line is already occupied, i.e., the telephone of the called station. Many calling parties become frustrated when encountering a busy signal, especially since the tone used to signify a busy signal is normally annoying. The time a calling party remains on the line and attempts to redial the telephone called station is busy normally represents wasted time and occupies phone equipment without generating income. It would be beneficial to be able to productively occupy the time that the calling party is on the phone line without annoying the calling party by requiring the calling party to listen to a busy signal.
Likewise, when the called station's line is idle, the period of time in which a calling party remains on the line while waiting for a party to answer the phone can be considered to be wasted time and money.
It would be advantageous to have a telephone system which would replace the audible ringback and busy signals initiated by the conventional telephone network by a series of prerecorded announcements which would provide the calling party with useful information. When the telephone at the called station is answered, the announcements would discontinue and the call would be connected in the usual manner. In addition, the announcements are also discontinued if the calling party abandons the call.
The present invention is directed to a telephone marketing system which is capable of replacing a busy signal or audible ringback signal by one or more prerecorded announcements. The present telephone marketing system notifies the calling party that the line is either busy or idle and, if busy, that the line will be automatically retried for completion in a predetermined amount of time. If the line is idle one or more prerecorded announcements are played for the caller, the announcements continuing until the phone at the called station is answered. At that time, the announcements are discontinued and the call is completed. If the called station's line is busy, a number of prerecorded announcements are played for the predetermined amount of time. The announcements can vary in subject matter. Once the called station's line is determined to be idle, i.e., at the called station is no longer in use the telephone, the calling party is automatically connected to the called station and the announcements are terminated.


In a data recorder-reproducer, and a bit map data processing method, a control program processing method and a setting data processing method of the data recorder-reproducer, bit map data supplied from the external is taken in, and the taken bit map data is superimposed upon data which is reproduced from a recording medium or is input from the external. In addition, first program data stored in a rewritable storing means is rewritten into second control program data supplied from the external. Furthermore, settings of an input/output means is changed based on the setting data supplied from the external.

1. Field of the Inevntion
This invention relates to a data recorder-reproducer, a bit map data processing method, control program processing method and setting data processing method of the data recorder-reproducer, and more particularly, is suitably applied to a video server.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a video server, a so-called redundant array of inexpensive disc (RAID) in which hard disk drives (HDDs) each composed of plural hard disk (HDs) which can be accessed at random are arranged in parallel is employed. This is because data to be recorded includes video data and its volume became large and further, it is necessary to secure redundancy to get more reliability of data including video data used for broadcasting.
In addition, the video server has plural input/output processing processors to access this recording medium, processes data including video data and audio data transmitted from the external, performs compressing processing on them if necessity, and transmits the processed data to the RAID. In addition, the video server processes data reproduced from the RAID and outputs them to the external as transmission data. To each input/output processing processor, a time slot is allotted (a time slot signal is supplied) so as to access the RAID, and each input/output processing processor accesses the RAID within this time slot duration. This time slot duration has very short time, so it is seemed that the recording/reproducing to/from the RAID for multiple channels is performed at the same time.
By the way, the conventional video server does not have a signal processing function of superimposing bit map data (text data such as a telop and a title or video data such as graphics) upon video signals, and such signal processing is performed using a special apparatus (mixer).
Therefore, a mixer is required even in the case where a simple text or a simple image is to be superimposed upon the image that is outputted from the video server; for instance, in the case where relay broadcasting is to be performed, it is required to convey a mixer along with a video server every time, or it is required to perform such signal processing at the broadcasting station side.
Besides, the conventional video server has software for various functions such as recording and reproducing, however, the only way for version-up of software is that the corresponding substrate is taken out and then the read only memory (ROM) storing the program therein, which is mounted on the substrate, is replaced.
Therefore, in such a video server, there have been such fears that a ROM might be mounted inversely in replacement, or a wrong slot of the substrate might be used, or an unsatisfactory electrical contact might be generated. And, in the occasion like this, there has been a fear that the circuit might be broken at the worst.
Besides, in general, in the great majority of audio/video (AV) devices, various settings are to be performed by inputting set values from their menus. Therefore, in such an AV device, at the time of replacement of the apparatus or in the case where the same setting is to be made as that of the current device, various settings must be achieved with the same method for each setting with respect to the new apparatus, which cause complicated setting works.
Therefore, it is considered that if a video server itself can superimpose bit map data upon video data that is inputted from the external or that has been stored therein, functional ability can be improved without carrying a mixer for relay broadcasting and so on.
Besides, it is considered that if it is possible, in a video server, to update software without replacing a ROM for instance, the version-up of software can be easily performed with preventing any accident that might occur during the replacement of ROM. In addition, it is considered that if it is possible to change the settings without the input work for each set value for instance, the usability can be improved because the complicated setting works can be avoided.

Data recorder-reproducer and bit map data processing method, control program processing method and setting data processing method of data recorder-reproducer


Disclosed herein are three-dimensional free space imaging systems and related methods employing a dynamic stereoscopic image projection system in combination with a optic module comprising a doublet of Fresnel lenses. The dynamic projector systems calculating derived flat image information for each projector based upon inputted stereopair images and information regarding the projector elements and optic module. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the projection system uses an image computational device that employs a neural network feedback calculation to calculate the appropriate flat image information and appropriate images to be projected on the screen by the projectors at any given time.

Projective displays use images focused onto or through a diffuser, screen, lens, or other optic module to present an image to a user. The projection may be done from the same side of the optic module as the user (i.e., reflecting the image off the optic module), as in the case of cinema projectors and a cinema screen, or from the opposite side, such as is used in current rear projection television technology. Prior art projection systems typically produce a two-dimensional image by using a single projector to project a single image at a time onto a screen. The screen would have a linear light distribution such that all viewers of the image reflected by screen would see the same two-dimensional image regardless of the positions at which they are located.
In contemporary projection systems, the image can be generated on one or more "displays," such as a miniature liquid crystal display device that reflects or transmits light in a controllable pattern formed by its constituent switchable pixels. Such liquid crystal displays are generally fabricated with microelectronics processing techniques such that each grid region, or "pixel," in the display is a region whose reflective or transmissive properties can be controlled by an electrical signal. In a liquid crystal display, the light incident on a particular pixel is either reflected, partially reflected, or transmitted by the pixel, depending on the signal applied to that pixel. In some cases, liquid crystal displays are transmissive devices where the transmission through any pixel can be varied in steps (gray levels) over a range extending from a state where light is substantially blocked to the state in which incident light is substantially transmitted. Such transmissive liquid crystal displays can be used as controllable optic modules as is known in the art.
When a uniform beam of light is reflected from (or transmitted through) a liquid crystal display, the beam gains a spatial intensity profile that depends on the particular transmission state of the various pixels in the display. Thus, an image can be formed at the liquid crystal display by electronically adjusting the transmission (or gray level) of each of the pixels to correspond to a desired image. This image can be projected (such as by backlighting a transmissive liquid crystal display) onto a diffusing screen for direct viewing, or, alternatively, it can be imaged through a lens or some other optic module by which it can be magnified by an eyepiece or otherwise viewed to give a virtual image.
The three-dimensional display of images, which has long been the goal of electronic imaging systems, has many potential applications in modern society. For example, training of professionals, from pilots to physicians, now frequently relies upon the visualization of three-dimensional images. Understandably, three-dimensional imaging also has numerous potential applications in entertainment. In many applications of three-dimensional imaging it is important that multiple perspectives of an image be able to be viewed so that, for example, during simulations of examination of human or mechanical parts, a viewer can have re-created a continuous three-dimensional view of those parts from multiple angles and viewpoints in a manner closely emulating real life three-dimensional vision.
Thus, real-time, three-dimensional image displays have long been of interest in a variety of technical applications. Heretofore, several techniques have been known in the prior art to be used to produce three-dimensional and/or volumetric images. These techniques vary in terms of complexity and quality of results, and include computer graphics which simulate three-dimensional images on a two-dimensional display by appealing only to psychological depth cues; stereoscopic displays which are designed to make the viewer mentally fuse two retinal images (one each for the left and right eyes) into one image giving the perception of depth; holographic images which reconstruct the actual wavefront structure reflected from an object; and volumetric displays which create three-dimensional images having real physical height, depth, and width by activating actual light sources of various depths within the volume of the display.
Auto-stereoscopic displays in particular have been widely researched in attempts to create real-time full-color three-dimensional displays. The principle of stereoscopy is based upon the simultaneous imaging of two different viewpoints, corresponding to the left and right eyes of a viewer, to produce a perception of depth from paired two-dimensional images. In stereoscopic imaging, an image is recorded using conventional photography (or video recording) of the object from different vantages that correspond, for example, to the distance between the eyes of the viewer.
Ordinarily, for the viewer to receive a spatial impression from viewing stereoscopic images of an object projected onto a screen, it has to be ensured that the left eye sees only the left image and the right eye only the right image. While this can be achieved with headgear or eyeglasses, auto-stereoscopic techniques have been developed in an attempt to abolish this limitation. Conventionally, however, auto-stereoscopy systems have typically required that the viewer's eyes be located at a particular position and distance from a view screen (commonly known as a "viewing zone") to produce the stereoscopic effect.
One way of increasing the effective viewing zone for an auto-stereoscopic display is to create multiple simultaneous viewing zones. This approach, however, imposes increasingly large bandwidth requirements on image processing equipment. Furthermore, much research has been focused on eliminating the restriction of viewing zones by tracking the eye/viewer positions in relation to the screen and electronically adjusting the emission characteristic of the imaging apparatus to maintain a stereo image. Thus, using fast, modern computers and motion sensors that continuously register the viewer's body and head movements as well as a corresponding image adaptation in the computer, a spatial impression of the environment and the objects (virtual reality) can be generated using stereoscopic projection. As the images become more complex, this prior art embodying this approach has proven less and less successful.
The nature of stereoscopic vision allows parallax to be observed only from discrete positions in limited viewing zones in prior art auto-stereoscopy systems. For example, any stereoscopic pair in standard auto-stereoscopy systems gives the correct perspective when viewed from one position only. Thus, auto-stereoscopic display systems must be able to sense the position of the observer and regenerate the stereo-paired images with different perspectives as the observer moves. This is a difficult task that has not been mastered in the prior art.
Further, there is also present interest in various industries for relatively inexpensive systems that can generate relatively high quality "free space" images in free space whereby the image appears to float in air in front of the viewer without requiring the user to wear specialized eyewear or any such implements. U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,100, issued to Kirk et al., discloses one particular free space imaging system. This particular system utilizes a doublet form of optic module, where the doublet is formed from two large Fresnel lenses configured such that their echelon groove components are mutually oppositely disposed within the optical transmission path of the system. The projection of an image through the lens doublet to a focal point on the other side of the doublet causes a predictable curving to the output focal plane for the projected image.
While the use of lens doublet as disclosed by Kirk emulates a sense of three-dimensionality to a viewer within a relatively wide field of view, this system still is not ideal for three-dimensional free-space imaging. The system disclosed by Kirk attempts to create a three-dimensional viewing effect using a projected two-dimensional image and chromic aberrations. This approach leads to an imperfect image effect.
In light of the current state of the art of image projection, it would be desirable to have a system that is capable of projecting numerous aspects or "multi-aspect" images such that the user can see many aspects and views of a particular object when desired. It would further be useful for such viewing to take place in a flexible way so that the viewer is not constrained in terms of the location of the viewer's head when seeing the stereo image. Additionally, it would be desirable for such a system to be able to provide superior three-dimensional image quality while being operable without the need for special headgear. Thus, there remains a need in the art for improved methods and apparatuses that enable the projection of high-quality three-dimensional "free space" images to viewing locations.

Three-dimensional free space image projection employing Fresnel lenses


A device for mounting burners inside a duct for gas and comprising at least one fuel injection pipe having a nose disposed in the head of said burner on an axis parallel to the axis of the duct. The injection pipe is situated inside a sheath secured to the burner head for feeding it with air from outside the duct and disposed transversely relative to the axis of the duct, and the nose of the injection pipe, situated at the end of a bent portion of the pipe, is movable along the axis relative to a guide orifice secured to the burner head, from which it is suitable for being disengaged by the injection pipe being moved inside the sheath from outside the duct, thereby making it possible, from outside the duct, to extract the injection pipe completely to the outside of the duct.

One of the main applications of the invention is mounting burners in ducts that exhaust postcombustion gases downstream from gas turbines and upstream from recuperator boilers in a cogeneration unit: such burners enable the temperature of turbine gases to be raised up to 1800.degree. C., for example, thereby increasing the efficiency of said boilers. In addition, they make it possible to operate said boilers with fresh oxidizing air when the turbines are not in operation.
Other applications are also possible for heating gas ducts, in particular those having a low oxygen content, such as installations for heating flue gases. . . .
At present there exist four types of burner corresponding to the above applications; i.e. the following, listed by type of structure:
strip burners which use only gas as the sole fuel and which are disposed in fixed manner inside said duct for the gas to be heated; PA1 gas and light fuel oil strip burners comprising fixed gas burner strips as before disposed between burner heads for light fuel oil, such as those described in patent application FR 2 285 574; together, the strips and the heads constitute a single assembly and they do not enable heavy fuel oil to be used since it cannot be distributed uniformly between the various heads, since it is practically impossible to balance the heavy fuel oil flow rate accurately without metering because of the risk of solidification, because of the differences of headloss as a function of feed line length and because of the differences in burner height; that is why heavy fuel oil burners generally make use of a single central injection pipe; PA1 lateral or external burners having a flame axis that is perpendicular or inclined relative to the flow direction of the gas to be heated, i.e. to the main flow axis of the duct. This disposition makes it possible to place the burner(s) outside the duct, providing an intersecting axis flame is given protection, or to place it in a housing that is completely outside the duct, in which case the burner does not heat the gas directly but acts as a hot gas generator, or by placing the flame inside the duct and protecting it by a kind of internal deflector to keep the gases that are to be heated away from the transverse flame so as to prevent the flame being excessively disturbed and so as to avoid producing too large a quantity of unburned fuel. Nevertheless, that disposition suffers from numerous drawbacks, in particular: it is difficult to match the size of the flame or flames exactly to the size of the duct; the recuperation boiler situated downstream from the burner(s) does not recover radiation from the flames, thus giving rise to a loss of efficiency and requiring overdimensioning; the transverse flames are always disturbed to some extent by the flow of gases to be heated which have a low oxygen content thus giving rise to unburned fuel; and the sides of the duct can be damaged by the proximity of flame ends; and PA1 burners that can be referred to as "in-duct" burners since they are located entirely inside a gas flow duct; this is the type of installation used for the burners of the present invention, and it has a burner flow axis parallel to the flow axis inside the duct; the number of burners installed in this way is small, and is generally always equal to or less than six, and is even preferably two; the burners are fed with liquid or gaseous fuels by pipes connected to the side of the duct. Compared with the burners in the first two types of structure mentioned above, these burners provide far more options since they can use any type of fuel equally well, regardless of whether the fuel is liquid, light, heavy, or gaseous, and secondly they give combustion results that are better than those of the third above-described structure because the burners are positioned much more logically on the axis and near the center of the duct; however, unlike lateral or external burners, but like the burners in the first two structures described, they are very difficult of access, and in order to dismount them, modify them, or repair them it is necessary to enter into the duct. This is not too inconvenient for gas-only strip burners or even for light fuel oil burners since the risks of having to perform adjustments and maintenance operations on such strips are much lower than when using heavy fuel oil. However, the use of special gases, such as hydrogenated gases, or gases that entrain liquid particles such as refinery gases, makes it necessary to be able to have access likewise for dismounting and maintenance of gas injectors.
Unfortunately, the ducts in which the gases that are to be heated or reheated flow are several meters wide and tall, commonly about 6 meters (m), and given that turbine exhaust gases are already at about 500.degree. C. or more, in order to be able to act on such burner heads it is necessary to stop the flow of hot air and wait for the equipment to cool down before it is possible to penetrate inside the duct to access said burners.

Device for mounting burners in a duct for gas to be heated

Entreprise Generale de Chauffage Industrial Pillard