There are disclosed color-providing compounds comprising two or more cyclic 1,3 sulfur-nitrogen groups and two or more color-providing moieties, i.e., complete dyes or dye intermediates, capable of releasing the color-forming moieties upon cleavage in the presence of silver ions or a soluble silver complex. The color-providing compounds are useful as image-forming materials in color photographic processes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to image-forming materials, specifically to color-providing compounds which, in the presence of silver ions and/or a soluble silver complex, undergo a cleavage reaction to liberate two or more color-providing moieties.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489 discloses silver ion assisted cleavage reactions useful in photographic systems. As disclosed therein, photographically inert compounds are capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of silver ions made available imagewise during processing of a silver halide emulsion to liberate a reagent, such as, a photographically active reagent or a dye in an imagewise distribution corresponding to that of said silver ions. In one embodiment disclosed therein, color images are produced by using as the photographically inert compounds, color providing compounds which are substantially non-diffusible in the photographic processing composition but capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of the imagewise distribution of silver ions and/or soluble silver complex made available in the undeveloped and partially developed areas of a silver halide emulsion as a function of development to liberate a more mobile and diffusible color-providing moiety in an imagewise distribution corresponding to the imagewise distribution of said ions and/or said complex. The subsequent formation of a color image is the result of the differential in diffusibility between the parent compound and liberated color-providing moiety whereby the imagewise distribution of the more diffusible color-providing moiety released in the undeveloped and partially developed areas is free to transfer.
Color-providing compounds useful in the above process form the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,783, a continuation in part of said U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489. The color-providing compounds disclosed therein may comprise one or more dye radicals and one or more 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen moieties. For example, they may comprise one complete dye or dye intermediate and one cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen moiety. Alternatively, the color-providing compounds may comprise two or more cyclic moieties for each dye radical or dye intermediate and vice versa. Particularly useful dye-providing compounds disclosed therein comprise a dye containing from 1 to 4 and preferably 1 or 2 cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen groups and may be represented by the formula EQU D-[(L).sub.m-1 -Y].sub.n (A)
wherein D represents a dye radical, i.e., the radical of an organic dye possessing at least one carbon atom, L is a divalent organic linking group containing at least one carbon atom, m is a positive integer 1 or 2, n is a positive integer from 1 to 4, and Y is a cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen group.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,448 discloses a different class of 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen compounds which, rather than relying on the differential in diffusibility between the colored parent compound and the liberated dye to form the color image, as in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489, utilize the ability of 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen compounds to undergo silver ion assisted cleavage to provide an imagewise distribution of a colored image dye from a substantially colorless precursor of a preformed image dye. This is accomplished by employing a 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen group to maintain said precursor in its substantially colorless form until said 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen group undergoes cleavage. The color image may be formed by using the imagewise cleavage of the 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen group to provide the image dye directly, or the imagewise cleavage of the 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen group may be used to activate a subsequent reaction or series of reactions which in turn provide the image dye.
Thermally developable black and white as well as color photosensitive materials, whose development is effected by heating, are well known. Among the systems designed to give color images are those wherein a diffusible dye is released as a result of the heat development of an organic silver salt and transferred to the image-receiving layer, whereby a color image is obtained.
Japanese Kokai 59-180548 having a Laid-Open date of Oct. 13, 1984 discloses a heat-developable silver halide photosensitive imaging system wherein the dye-providing material contains a heterocyclic ring containing a nitrogen atom and a sulfur or selenium atom which heterocyclic ring is subject to cleavage in the presence of silver ions to release a diffusible dye. An example of a suitable dye-providing material is a thiazolidine dye such as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,783. The process involves imagewise exposing the photosensitive system to light and subsequently or simultaneously heating the photosensitive system under a substantially water-free condition, in the presence of a base or base precursor, whereby an oxidation-reduction reaction between the exposed photosensitive silver halide and a reducing agent occurs. In the exposed areas a negative silver image is formed. In the unexposed areas, the silver ion, present in inverse proportion to the silver image, causes the heterocyclic ring of the dye-providing material to be cleaved releasing a diffusible dye. The diffusible dye is then transferred to an image-receiving layer whereby a positive dye image is formed.
While the differential in diffusibility between the parent compound and the liberated color-providing moiety, disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489, is useful in obtaining a color image, under some conditions a small amount of the parent compound may also transfer. Thus, in color diffusion transfer film products wherein the parent compound comprising a colored image dye-providing moiety is itself colored, non-imagewise diffusion during processing of even a minimal amount of the parent compound to a receptive layer of the film unit can adversely affect the quality of the image, particularly in the Dmin, i.e., highlight, areas of the image. This has been found to be a particularly acute problem in thermally developed silver halide photographic systems.
One way to lessen the diffusion of uncleaved dye-providing material is to add additional ballasting groups and/or to increase the size of the ballast groups. However, this is not very efficient since it requires a larger weight of uncleaved dye-providing material for the same amount of dye released.
It has been now been found that by using additional dye providing radicals as ballast groups, one can decrease diffusion of the uncleaved parent compound to the receptive layer of the film unit while increasing the image-forming efficiency of the color-providing materials, i.e., releasing more dye-providing moieties per molecule of uncleaved color-providing material.

Thermally developable photosensitive material


The present invention improves WAMLAT Timing Availability by using timing from one or more of a variety of sources. These sources include unaugmented SATNAV timing, from GPS or/and GALILEO, GEO timing from pseudo SATNAV signals, additional GEO timing for non SATNAV applications, timing derived from both terrestrial and satellite television and radio transmissions, and stable on board oscillators to withstand short term interruptions in satellite timing. The use of one or more of these multiple sources of timing improves accuracy and reliability of wide area multilateration systems.

In the past few years multilateration has become popular for many aircraft air traffic control applications. Initially introduced for airport surface tracking to prevent runway incursions, the benefits of multilateration have extended to terminal and wide areas. Wide area multilateration (WAMLAT) is viewed as a transition and potential back up to Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B). Since WAMLAT techniques include satellite-based timing, and ADS-B uses satellite navigation, the impact of satellite common mode failures needs to be assessed for combined ADS-B and back up applications. This following is a summary of the availability of timing data from satellite navigation systems and proposes techniques to improve overall availability of WAMLAT.
There are a number of wide Area Multilateration Satellite Synchronization Techniques in the Prior Art. Eurocontrol Report EATMP TRS 131/04, Wide Area Multilateration, Version 1.0, November 2004, by W. H. L. Neven, T. J. Quilter, R. Weedon, and R. A. Hogendoorn, incorporated herein by reference, assessed the various synchronization methods used for WAMLAT. Four methods were evaluated—common clock, reference transponder, and two satellite techniques using standard GNSS processing as well as common view GNSS processing, which is essentially an over-determined solution for timing.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating Standard GNSS Synchronization. Referring to FIG. 1, satellite constellation generates GPS timing signals, which are received by antennas 115, 135, which feed corresponding GNSS receivers 110, 130 at respective multilateration tracking stations. Each multilateration tracking station also has a corresponding down converter 120, 140, for receiving aircraft or other vehicle radio signals. GNSS receivers 110 and 130 feed local clocks 150 and 170 which in turn are used as time sources for time of arrival measurement units 150 and 180, which time stamp the received radio signals from down converters 120, 140, respectively. Through digital links, the time-stamp data is fed to a time difference of arrival (TDOA) and tracking unit 190 where vehicle position can be determined.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating Common View GNSS Synchronization. Referring to FIG. 2, satellite constellation generates GPS timing signals, which are received by antennas 215, 235, which feed corresponding GNSS receivers 210, 230 at respective multilateration tracking stations. Each multilateration tracking station also has a corresponding down converter 220, 240, for receiving aircraft or other vehicle radio signals. GNSS receivers 210 and 230 feed local clocks 250 and 270 which in turn are used as time sources for time of arrival measurement units 250 and 280, which time stamp the received radio signals from down converters 220, 240, respectively. Through digital links, time data is fed from GNSS receivers 210 and 230 directly to processor 295, which corrects timing data, while the time-stamp data is fed to a time difference of arrival (TDOA) and tracking unit 290 where vehicle position can be determined.
There are other satellite based timing techniques that the Eurocontrol study did not evaluate, such as relative timing as presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,304, method and apparatus for improving the accuracy of relative position estimates in a satellite-based navigation system, incorporated herein by reference. The relative timing solution technique results in higher timing accuracy by eliminating errors affecting multiple receivers in the same geographic region. In this approach, the standard absolute navigation equations are modified to solve directly for relative position and timing, thereby providing increased precision.
Wide Area Multilateration has been used to validate ADS-B. While ADS-B promises global accurate tracking of aircraft using a significantly lower-cost surveillance infrastructure than today's conventional radar surveillance, there are issues regarding availability and spoofing. WAMLAT is widely viewed as a potential back up/validation to ADS-B. The Eurocontrol report concluded that WAMLAT could be used in the following roles.
To verify navigation accuracy, ADS-B data can be checked against the multilateration data to verify the track keeping performance of the avionics. ADS-B may also be used for Integrity Monitoring. WAMLAT can be used to monitor the integrity of ADS-B as a surveillance technique. This may be done to gather data for a safety case and to monitor the integrity of in-service systems. For example, a bias in one aircrafts position is a serious safety issue for ADS-B only surveillance but a WAMLAT system could identify this immediately. For Anti-spoofing, WAMLAT systems can be used to identify genuine aircraft and the source of spoof transmissions. However, since both ADS-B and WAMLAT depend on satellite information, the impact of satellite common mode failures should be assessed.
Satellite availability is another issue affecting the use of GPS in wide-area multilateration. In the GPS standard positioning service signal specification, 2nd Edition, dated 1995, and incorporated herein by reference, the minimum coverage availability, which is the probability of four or more satellites in view over any 24-hour interval, averaged over the entire globe is ≧0.999. In a paper titled Weight RAIM for Precision Approach by Per Enge of Stanford University presented at the 1995 ION GPS Conference and incorporated herein by reference, he concluded that P(N≧4) was 0.99996. This result was based on simulation using realistic satellite failure models over 107 simulated geometries.
These results relate to four satellites in view to provide navigation. However, WAMLAT does not need the navigation mode for operation, as the necessary function is timing or relative time measurements between the sensors. Since WAMLAT sensors are stationary, with accurately known positions, solutions using four or fewer satellites are sufficient for time/relative time measurement. In a paper published at the 1999 ION National Technical Meeting, and incorporated herein by reference, Boeing's Clifford Kelley summarized the historical availability of GPS satellites from 1995-1999 as illustrated in Table 1.
TABLE 1Number of OperationalSatellitesAvailability≦21   1.0  220.9992230.9475
Therefore, at any time, there are 21 or more operational satellites making up the constellation from which users need to have four in view for navigation. For the purpose of quantification, the timing availability for AirScene™ using GPS is expected to be significantly better than the requirements for navigation and is concluded to be ≧0.99999. This is considered to be a conservative value and drives the overall system availability.
The United States has implemented a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). An excellent description of WAAS may be found on Mehaffy, Yeazel, and DePriest's GPS information website, http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/dgps.htm, incorporated herein by reference. WAAS is a method of providing better accuracy from the GPS constellation and it similar in principle to DGPS except that a second receiver is not required. Correction data is sent via geo-stationary satellites (GEO) and is decoded by one of the regular channels already present in the GPS receiver. Thus one of the channels can be designated to decode regular GPS signals or can be used to decode WAAS data. Regional correction data is collected by a set of ground stations all over the United States. The data is packaged together, analyzed, converted to a set of correction data by a master station and then uploaded to the GEOs, which in turn transmit the data down to the local GPS receiver. The GPS receiver then figures out which data is applicable to its current location and applies appropriate corrections to the receiver. Importantly, the GEOs also function as independent GPS satellites and therefore provide another source of timing. FIG. 3 illustrates a WAAS Ground Station Layout.
As of 2006, the WAAS system is operational and there are near-real-time updates on system performance posted on the internet such as the non precision approach coverage from http://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/npa.html, incorporated herein by reference. For non-precision approach accuracy a DOP of up to four may be used. FIG. 4 illustrates a near real time display of non precision approach accuracy.
The GPS Risk Assessment Report, VS-99-007, January 1999, Johns Hopkins University, incorporated herein by reference, evaluated the improvements in availability provided by various GEO augmentation scenarios. FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the use of GPS for various navigation applications, with no GEO augmentation, with GEO augmentation, and with GEO augmentation and assumptions regarding mean time to repair (MTTR). FIG. 5 is a chart illustrating GPS Availability without Augmentation. FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating GPS Availability with Augmentation. FIG. 7 is a chart illustrating GPS Availability with Augmentation and MTTR Assumptions.
Generally, for en-route and terminal navigation applications, navigation availability improves by a factor of 100 or so when four GEOs are used. Navigation availability requirements of 0.99999 are exceeded by at least one order using four GEOs.
Similar wide area correction systems exist in other parts of the world, such as the European EGNS (http://www.esa.int/esaNA/index.html) and the Japanese MTSAT, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The European ground station network (from http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/dgps.htm, incorporated herein by reference) is illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a map illustrating European EGNOS Station Locations.
Each correction system, using geostationary satellites, provides higher availability and integrity than un-augmented satellite systems such as GPS or Galileo. FIG. 9 summarizes the overlay provided by each system. Note that the footprints shown are constrained by the location of wide area ground stations, and the GEOs, complete with additional timing information, cover a far broader area. FIG. 9 is a map illustrating WAAS, EGNOS, and MSAS Ground Station Coverage Areas.

Use of geo-stationary satellites to augment wide


A gypsum panel includes a gypsum core containing a termiticide with poor water solubility, wherein the gypsum core has a first end region, a center region, and a second end region having an equal thickness and extending along a thickness direction from one surface side to another surface side, the termiticide is contained in each of the first end region, the center region, and the second end region, and a content of the termiticide in the center region is lower than a content of the termiticide in the first end region and in the second end region.

Conventionally, gypsum panels are used in various applications such as building materials.
Such gypsum panels are known to be damaged or destroyed by termites. Thus, gypsum panels containing termiticides have been examined in recent years.
As a method for producing such a gypsum panel containing a termiticide, a method for applying a solution containing a termiticide to the surface of the gypsum panel has been examined, for example.
However, in order to obtain a sufficient anti-termite effect by applying the solution containing the termiticide to the surface of the gypsum panel, the solution containing the termiticide needs to be applied to the gypsum panel in large amounts, which could increase working burden on a worker.
Conversely, when the solution containing the termiticide is applied in small amounts, it becomes difficult to uniformly apply the solution containing the termiticide to the surface of the gypsum panel, which may result in an insufficient effect.
Further, in a case where the gypsum panel is produced in such a manner that the solution containing the termiticide is applied to the surface of the gypsum panel and is dried, there is a possibility that deformation such as warpage of the gypsum panel may be caused by the drying step.
Also, in a case where the gypsum panel is produced in such a manner that the solution containing the termiticide is applied to the surface of the gypsum panel, the solution containing the termiticide is contained only in the surface that is exposed at the time when the solution is applied. Therefore, when the gypsum panel is cut after the solution containing the termiticide is applied, the termiticide is not contained in the cut sections, resulting in insufficient protection.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method for producing a termite-proof gypsum panel for building materials. According to the method, an organic insecticide, especially a termiticide, which is oil soluble or soluble in an oily solvent, is dispersed in a mixed solution such that an aqueous dispersion is obtained. The aqueous dispersion is added in an amount of 0.005 to 5 wt % relative to the dry weight of a curable material used. Patent Document 1 further discloses that the insecticide, especially the termiticide, can be uniformly distributed throughout a gypsum molded body or a gypsum panel for building materials.

Gypsum panel and method for producing gypsum panel


A safety containment shield for use by the authorities to protect the officer during usage, and to minimize damage to the person confronted. The shield is a composite of laminar material, including a sheet of rigid polymer, having foam cushioning layers provided on both its front and back surfaces. An outer covering of canvas or vinyl is provided, and hand gripping means, in the form of arm straps, are furnished upon the backside, to facilitate the grasp by the user, particularly during participation in a conflict.

The general concept of this current invention is to provide a shield, fabricated from a variety of materials, that add not only to its structural integrity during application and usage, but afford protection and safety to both the user, and the parties against whom the shield is presented, so that the shield can be used for both offensive purposes, for self protection, and as a defense in such situations as crowd control, and close combat.
While the general concept of any shield obviously cannot be considered as new, the structure of the current invention, it is believed and submitted, contains a combination of materials and components that make it rather unique, in comparison with shields as heretofore known and used. Metal shields have been used for centuries. Whole armies were equipped with metal shields, having hand gripping holders provided upon the backside, and generally were used as a defense against the application of swords, spears, and arrows, when men entered into combat. It does not appear, though, that much innovation has taken place in the design, configuration, and construction of shields as currently used, nor does it appear that such shields have been given any extensive usage, as an item of equipment for use by the military, police, or crowd control authorities, under present circumstances. Obviously, shields generally provide the officer with a means to shelter his/her own body from the physical force exerted by others, but, the shield of this current invention is designed to incorporate various cushioning means, that not only affords protection to the user, should the shield be thrusted rearwardly, as a result of an impacting force, and impact against the person, and in addition, the provision of means for minimizing any injury to the party or crowd under surveillance, and intended to be controlled, does not appear to have been given advancing thought. The purpose for considering these factors, from all standpoints, needs consideration this day and age, particularly when one views the proliferation of law suits that are being filed against municipalities, the police authorities, and the individual officer, for injury that has been sustained by any suspect, a crowd under control, or the like, who claim that the police utilized extraordinary force, beyond the call of duty, when exercising their authority. Monetary damages, quite excessive, have been awarded by juries to such victims, which requires the authorities to now give consideration as to further means to implement safeguards, even while attempting to uphold the law against suspects, or the criminals.

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Described is an initial liquid composition with at least antimicrobial, antibacterial, and/or anti-viral properties comprising chelated metal oxide particles suspended in a polyol, such that metal oxide particles are homogeneously dispersed in a primarily liquid based polyol carrier so that chelated metal oxide particles form a stable complex suspension that is optionally an alkaline based aqueous silver oxide dispersion. The liquid composition can be subsequently added to any polymer or polymer compound/system where the polymer degrades or melts at a temperature lower than the polyol carrier degradation or boiling temperature. The metal oxide complex may also impart beneficial semi-conductive or conductive as well as permeability and flammability property changes to the polymer (host) system.

For many years silver and silver salts have been used as antimicrobial agents. Early medicinal use of silver was the application of aqueous silver nitrate solutions to prevent eye infection in newborn babies. Silver salts, colloids, and complexes have also been used to prevent and to control infection. For example, colloidal metallic silver has been used topically for dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and infections including vaginal infections.
Other metals, such as gold, zinc, copper and cerium, have also been found to possess antimicrobial properties, both alone and in combination with silver. These and other metals have been shown to provide antimicrobial behavior even in extremely low concentrations, a property referred to as "oligodynamic." Metal ions, especially those of heavy metals, show this effect. The exact mechanism of action is still unknown. Data from silver suggest that these ions denature enzymes of the target cell or organism by binding to reactive groups, resulting in their precipitation and inactivation. There is recent evidence of changing the cellular DNA structure itself. Silver also reacts with the amino-, carboxyl-, phosphate-, and imidazole-groups and diminish the activities of lactate dehydrogenase and glutathione peroxidase. Bacteria are in general affected by the oligodynamic effect and it seems this effect is agnostic with regard to the strain of bacteria. Viruses in general are not as sensitive to this effect.
Silver is a naturally occurring element that is present in our environment, including the air we breathe, the water we drink and the foods we consume. However, silver does not occur naturally in the tissues of humans and animals. Silver exhibits relatively low toxicity to animals and humans. It is however, extremely toxic to simpler forms of life such as bacteria. The antibacterial properties of silver are known, and were at least suspected for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks used silver pots and other utensils. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, wrote that silver had beneficial healing and anti-disease properties. The Phoenicians stored water, wine and vinegar in silver bottles to prevent spoiling. In the early 1900s, it was not uncommon for people to place silver dollars in milk bottles to prolong the freshness of the milk. The malleability and non-toxicity of silver make it a useful material used in dental alloys for fittings and fillings.
Widespread use of silver declined with the development of modern antibiotics, many of them used to kill pathogens, but overuse has led to increased bacteria resistance. Hence, there is renewed interest in silver as a broad spectrum antimicrobial. Silver, when applied topically, demonstrates efficacy against microorganisms which sometimes exhibit resistance characteristics. There are many products on the market to treat or kill bacteria. These products are found in a variety of forms, including liquid, foam, gel, lotions and ointments.
Additionally, silver is known for antimicrobial use with dental and medical devices, such as mouthpieces, mouthguards, dental appliances, as well as catheters, cannulae, and stents. Additionally, silver compounds have been used in fluids for consumption and incorporated into both clothing and packaging for prevention of infections, bacterial growth, and spoilage.
Hospital acquired infections due to bacteria cause approximately more than 100,000 deaths annually. This number is more than the combined death total resulting from AIDS, breast cancer and automobile accidents. The economic burden is estimated to be greater than $5.2 billion annually. These infections are the fourth leading cause of death. Inadequate hand hygiene also contributes to food-related illnesses, including salmonella and E. coli infection. According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (hereafter, the "CDC"), as many as 76 million Americans contract a food-borne illness each year. Of these, nearly 5,000 die as a result of the illness. Others experience the annoying symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Published CDC guidelines enhanced hand sanitizer sales in the United States, which experienced double-digit growth in the 2004-2010 period, according to marketing information provided by A. C. Nielsen. The total annual U.S. infection prevention industry is estimated to be $9.4 billion.
One conventional approach for obtaining antimicrobial products is via the deposition of metallic silver directly onto the surface of the substrate, for example, by vapor coating, sputter coating, or ion beam coating. However, these noncontact deposition coating techniques suffer many drawbacks. These drawbacks include poor adhesion, lack of coating uniformity, and the need for special processing conditions, such as preparation in darkness due to the light sensitivity of some silver salts. One particular drawback of these coatings is that the processes by which the coatings are formed do not adequately coat hidden or enclosed areas. Additionally, these methods produce coatings that are very much like metallic silver in that they do not release silver from the coating and require contact with the coating to provide antimicrobial action. Though high concentrations of silver may be deposited on the substrate, very little free ionic silver is released on exposure to aqueous fluid. As a result, these coatings provide only limited antimicrobial activity. They essentially retard colonization of microbial agents on the surface of the device. However, because they do not release sufficient silver ions into aqueous fluids, they offer little or no protection from bacteria carried onto or into mammalian bodies and do not inhibit infection in surrounding areas.
Another method of coating silver onto a substrate involves deposition or electrodeposition of silver from solution. Drawbacks of these methods include poor adhesion, low silver pick-up on the substrate, the need for surface preparation, and high labor costs associated with multistep dipping operations usually required to produce the coatings. Adhesion problems have been addressed by inclusion of deposition agents and stabilizing agents, such as gold and platinum metals, or by forming chemical complexes between a silver compound and the substrate surface. However, inclusion of additional components increases the complexity and cost of producing such coatings.
With many devices, it is preferred to have a lubricious coating on the device. Lubricious coatings aid device insertion, reduce the trauma to tissue, and reduce the adhesion of bacteria. Another drawback to conventional methods which apply silver and other metals directly onto the surface of a device for which a lubricious coating is also desired is that a second, lubricious coating must be applied to the device over the antimicrobial coating, adding to manufacturing cost and time.
Some of these coatings release, to varying degrees, silver ions into the solution or tissue surrounding the substrate. However, activation of such coatings often requires conditions that are not suitable for use with dental or medical devices or are not even suitable as protectorants for food and clothing.
Another conventional approach for obtaining antimicrobial medical devices is the incorporation of silver, silver salts, and other antimicrobial compounds into the polymeric substrate material from which the article is formed. An oligodynamic metal may be physically incorporated into the polymeric substrate in a variety of ways. For example, a liquid solution of a silver salt may be dipped, sprayed or brushed onto the solid polymer, for example, in pellet form, prior to formation of the polymeric article. Alternatively, a solid form of the silver salt can be mixed with a finely divided or liquefied polymeric resin, which is then molded into the article. Further, the oligodynamic compound can be mixed with monomers of the material prior to polymerization.
There are several disadvantages to all of these approaches. One such disadvantage is that larger quantities of the oligodynamic material are required to provide effective antimicrobial activity at the surface of the device. A second disadvantage is that it is difficult to produce articles that allow for the release of the oligodynamic material because most device polymers absorb little, if any, water to aid in the diffusion and release of the oligodynamic material, resulting in articles that provide only a limited antimicrobial effect.
Yet another approach for obtaining antimicrobial devices is the incorporation of oligodynamic agents into a polymeric coating which is then applied to the surface of the article. Typically, an oligodynamic agent is incorporated into the coating solution in the form of a solution or a suspension of particles of the oligodynamic agent. Problems associated with this approach include poor adhesion of the coating to the substrate, settling and agglomeration of the oligodynamic particles, and inadequate antimicrobial activity over time.
Settling of particles of the oligodynamic agent occurs as a result of the size and density of the particles. Settling of the particles from such solutions can cause unpredictable changes in the concentration of the oligodynamic agent in the composition. These changes in ion concentration result in several drawbacks for producing commercial products. First, unpredictable changes in the concentration of the oligodynamic agent make it difficult to produce a composition having a specific, homogenous, exact concentration of antimicrobial ions and, thus, a particular and specific effectiveness. Additionally, these changes make it difficult to produce multiple batches of the composition having the same antibacterial concentration. Furthermore, the concentration of the antimicrobial ions can affect other properties of the composition, such as its adhesive and lubricious properties. Consistency of antimicrobial activity is essential in the production of antimicrobial devices.
Another problem associated with particle suspensions is agglomeration of the particles. Particle agglomeration produces larger particle sizes which increases settling of particles from solution. Additionally, the agglomeration of particles in suspensions and coating solutions can produce particles in the coating that are large enough to be noticeable to the touch on the coated surface. Articles produced using such coatings have decreased patient comfort and, therefore, are undesirable.
Many researchers have attempted to overcome these problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. (herein after "U.S. Pat. No.") 4,592,920 to Murtfeldt et al. discloses a process that attempts to overcome the settling and agglomeration problems in the art through the use of a comminuted metal having a particle size of 30 microns or less. The coating of the Murtfeldt patent, however, exhibits several disadvantages. For example, the Murtfeldt coating exhibits poor adhesion which is overcome by the use of the following methods. First, the Murtfeldt patent recommends pretreatment of the catheter to leach undesirable compounds that interfere with the bonding of the coating to the surface of the catheter. Second, the Murtfeldt patent recommends the use of a bridging compound, or primer, to attach the coating to the surface of the catheter to increase adhesion. This adds an additional manufacturing step to the fabrication of a coated device. In addition to these disadvantages, it is likely that the process used to manufacture and coat the catheters in Murtfeldt will result in settling and agglomeration problems even with the use of silver having smaller particle sizes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,223 to Pratt et al. attempts to overcome settling and agglomeration of the particles in his invention by using solutions that contain high concentrations of polymer or monomer solids and are, thus, viscous. Suspending particles in high viscosity coating solutions containing high polymer solids is a common method for reducing settling and agglomeration of the particles. The coatings made by this method are usually very thick and, as a result, are often not uniform. Thick coatings are also more costly, dry more slowly than thin coatings, and are more difficult to manufacture. The coatings of the Pratt patent also exhibit poor adhesion. To increase adhesion, the Pratt patent recommends using coating materials which are similar to the substrate to be coated, pretreating the surface of the substrate before the coating composition is applied, or applying an additional coating layer between the substrate and the coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,096 to Fox, Jr. et al. discloses a method for increasing the antibacterial activity of silver by incorporating a synergistic amount of chlorhexidine and a silver salt in a matrix-forming polymer. The polymer is such that it allows for release of the antimicrobial agent over an extended period of time. Fox, however, relies on dispersation of silver particles into coating solutions and will be susceptible to problems associated with particle settling and agglomeration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,143 to Laurin et al. discloses a method to enhance release of the antimicrobial metal ions from the surface of a device by incorporating the antimicrobial metal into a binder having a low dielectric constant that coats or forms the device. The nature of the binder allows the particles to form chain-like structures among themselves. These chain-like structures allow the surface particles to dissolve to provide an initial dose of the antimicrobial agent and to create a pathway for interior particles to come to the surface to provide additional doses of the antimicrobial agent over time. Laurin, however, also relies on dispersation of silver particles into coating solutions and is susceptible to problems associated with particle settling and agglomeration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,178 to Capelli discloses a polymer coating containing an oligodynamic metal salt of a sulfonylurea. The Capelli patent attempts to improve the solubility and stability of the antimicrobial metal in the coating and to provide for the sustained release of the antimicrobial agent by adding a carboxylic acid to the coating composition. The particular carboxylic acids and the proportions in which they are mixed determine the rate of release of the antimicrobial agent from the polymer coating composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,995 to Walder discloses the solid phase production of polymers containing AgCl as an antimicrobial agent. In the Walder process, solid polymer pellets are first soaked in a solution of silver nitrate which is absorbed into the pellets. The pellets are then rinsed, dried, and soaked in a solution of a sodium chloride. The chloride ions of the salt are absorbed into the polymer matrix of the pellets where they react with the silver nitrate to form silver chloride. The pellets are then rinsed, dried, and melt processed. The compositions of the Walder patent are limited to hydrophilic polymers, must be thermoformed, and do not contain other silver salts to provide multiple release rates, or other oligodynamic or medicinal agents to enhance antimicrobial effectiveness.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,716,895, 6,949,598, 7,179,849, 7,378,156, and 8,034,454 to Terry, describe another method for preparing antimicrobial medical devices where colloidal metal oxides such as silver oxide are prepared as colloids and dispersed into or onto polymer systems as coatings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,049 to Yamamoto and entitled "Method of Forming Chelated Collagen Having Bactericidal Properties" describes a method for protecting renatured collagen against bacterial and fungal attack. The method includes contacting the collagen with a silver ion containing solution at a pH range of 4.0 to 9.0 and exposing the silver-chelated collagen to ultraviolet radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,756,059 to Rozell et al. and entitled "Topical Composition, Topical Composition Precursor, and Methods for Manufacturing and Using" discloses a topical composition precursor prepared by melt processing a hydrophobic polymer composition that includes repeating pyrrolidone/alkylene groups wherein the alkylene groups contain at least 10 carbon atoms, and a hydrophobic polymer composition including repeating carboxylic groups and/or hydroxyl groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,895 to Terry entitled "Polymer Compositions Containing Colloids of Silver Salts" teaches how to provide varying release kinetics for the active ions in the compositions due to different water solubilities of the ions, allowing antimicrobial release tailored to a given application. The polymer compositions are stated to contain colloids comprised of salts of one or more oligodynamic metals such as silver.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,135,195 to Holladay et al. entitled "Treatment of Humans with Colloidal Silver Composition" describes water and silver particles, wherein the silver particles comprise an interior of elemental silver and an exterior of ionic silver oxide. The silver particles are described to be present in the water at a level of about 5-40 parts per million (Hereafter, "ppm").
U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,424 to Kemp entitled "Highly Acidic Metalated Organic Acid" teaches how to mix a monovalent or polyvalent cation and an organic acid in the presence of a strong oxyacid. The resulting composition is described to be less corrosive to a ferrous metal than a solution of a mineral acid having the same acidic pH value, and is more biocidal than a mixture of the organic acid and a metal salt of the organic acid which mixture has the same acid normality value.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,782 to Overton et al. is entitled "Acid Replacement Solution for Cleaning of Non Ferrous Metals" describes the use of non-ferrous alloys such as copper, brass and high strength aluminum alloys for cleaning purposes. The solution is described to be prepared by mixing Ca(OH)2 and KOH with equivalent sulfuric acid in water, and then passing the solution through a 10 micron filter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,095 to Newman, et al. is entitled "Ionic Silver Complex" and describes how to combine ingredients including water, a source of free silver ions, and a substantially non-toxic, substantially thiol-free, substantially water soluble complexing agent. This patent claims the use of an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal used as a counter-ion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,176 to Arata is entitled "Aqueous Disinfectant" and describes an aqueous solution that is formulated by electrolytically generating silver ions in water in combination with a citric acid.
Japanese patent application JP 2007230996A2 (Abstract only) and entitled "Anti-chafing composition comprising Boron Nitride" to General Electric Co., describes an anti-chafing composition for topical application comprising boron nitride.
US Patent Application No. 20080311206A1 entitled "Anti-Chafing Compositions Comprising Boron Nitride" to Student, et al. and assigned to General Electric Co., describes an anti-chafing composition for topical application comprising boron nitride.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,977 entitled "Method of Curing AIDS with Tetrasilver Tetroxide Molecular Crystal Devices" to Antelman and assigned to Antelman Technologies Ltd. describes a method of curing the AIDS virus using an intravenous injection using Tetrasilver Tetroxide.
Korean Patent Application KR7090732A—entitled "Anti-chafing compositions comprising Boron Nitride" to Student, et al. and assigned to General Electric Co., describes an anti-chafing composition for topical application.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,385 entitled "Tetrasilver Tetroxide Treatment for Skin Conditions to Antelman and assigned to Marantech Holding, LLC describes an invention that relates to the use of electron active molecular crystals comprising tetrasilver tetroxide (Ag4O4) for the treatment and cure of dermatological skin conditions.
US Application Number US20060105057 entitled "Compositions Using Tetrasilver Tetroxide and Methods for Management of Skin Conditions Using Same" to Antelman and assigned to Marantech Holding, LLC., describes pharmaceutical compositions including tetrasilver tetroxide (Ag4O4), such as in crystalline form, and methods of using such compositions for the prevention, treatment, and management of various dermatological skin conditions and diseases to include but not limited to skin chafing.
US Application Number US20040022868 entitled "Compositions Using Tetrasilver Tetroxide and Methods for Management of Skin Conditions Using Same" to Antelman and assigned Marantech Holding, LLC describes pharmaceutical compositions including tetrasilver tetroxide (Ag4O4), such as in crystalline form, and methods of using such compositions for the prevention, treatment, and management of various dermatological skin conditions and diseases to include but not limited to skin chafing.
US Application Number 20100120915A1 entitled "Antimicrobials and Related Methods to Beierle and not assigned, describes antimicrobial balms but does not mention the use of any type of silver or silver ions).
U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,927 entitled "Antiseptic Solutions Containing Silver Chelated with Polypectate and EDTA" to Miner, et al and assigned to Edwin Odell Miner, describes a liquid antiseptic and cleanser having improved long-term stability and includes silver ion in the list of ingredients.
PCT Publication Number WO2004/028461 entitled "Antiseptic Solutions Containing Silver Chelated with Polypectate and EDTA" by Miner, et al, describes a liquid antiseptic and cleanser having improved long-term stability and includes silver ions in the list of ingredients.
A PCT application to Karandiakar, WO 2006/015317, entitled "Antimicrobial Devices and Compositions" describes methods and compositions for antimicrobial devices comprising metal containing compositions which are resistant to heat and light discoloration. The metal containing compositions may comprise salts or complexes of silver, copper or zinc. In one aspect the compositions comprise silver salts. In another aspect, the compositions comprise silver complexes. In one aspect, the metal salts may comprise metal salts of saccharin, acesulfame, long chain fatty acids, and alkyl dicarboxylic acids. The compositions further comprise polymers which form salts or complexes with silver, copper or zinc. The methods of the present invention comprise treating devices with the metal containing compositions, including, but not limited to, such devices as woven wound care materials, catheters, patient care devices, and collagen matrices. A US patent to Newman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,895, entitled "Ionic Silver Oxide Complex" describes an invention that relates to a substantially non-colloidal solution made by combining ingredients comprising (a) water; (b) a source of free silver ions; and (c) a substantially non-toxic, substantially thiol-free, substantially water-soluble complexing agent.
Therefore, a need has been established to provide a method for rendering articles resistant to infection by reducing or eliminating undesirable bacteria growth, not only on the surface of the article but throughout the article so that the metal oxide complex is homogenously dispersed and endures throughout the life of the use of the article. There is also a need in the art for metal oxide compositions which can be incorporated into articles to provide antimicrobial activity. There is also a need for compositions that overcome the solubility, settling, and agglomeration problems of conventional oligodynamic compositions, and exhibit enhanced, sustained release of oligodynamic agents when these agents (primarily silver oxide for the present disclosure, but copper and other metal oxides are also useful) are dispersed within certain polymer systems. Incorporating the metal oxides into these articles in a cost efficient and reproducible manner, is required for providing readily available items of manufacture and one subject of the present disclosure.

Metal oxide compounds and infusion into polymer compounds


The optical miniaturized module includes a semiconductor laser for irradiating an optical disk with laser light, a diffraction grating for forming a main beam and two sub beams from the laser light, a polarization hologram for dividing reflected light from the optical disk, and a photodetector for detecting the reflected light. The polarization hologram includes a first parting line defined in a direction optically corresponding to a radial direction as the optical disk rotates. A main beam M incident area is divided with a boundary defined by the first parting line. A sub beam A incident area and a sub beam B incident area are each arranged avoiding the first parting line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical miniaturized module, optical pickup device and optical disk device, for use in recording information on and reproducing information from an optical storage medium such as an optical disk.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, the three-beam method and the push-pull method are primarily known as the tracking servo methods for optical disk devices. When such methods are employed for an optical disk device, there occurs an offset upon recording, reproduction or access. The offset may also occur when the optical disk is tilted. As a way of compensating such an offset, a differential push-pull (DPP) method has been proposed. In recent years, the DPP method has been employed for an optical disk device such as a digital versatile disk (DVD) player that records information in high density.
In the DPP method, push-pull signals are detected from reflected lights of a main beam that is the primary light (hereinafter, referred to as "main beam M") and of two sub beams formed to follow main beam M (hereinafter, referred to as "sub beam A" and "sub beam B"). The detected values are subject to operation to generate a tracking error signal in the DPP method. Sub beams A and B are arranged before and after main beam M (for example, sub beam A is a preceding beam and sub beam B is a succeeding beam with respect to main beam M) in a direction along the track on the surface of the optical storage medium. Further, the push-pull signal obtained from main beam M has a phase inverted from those of the push-pull signals obtained from sub beams A and B. With the DPP method, the push-pull signal obtained from main beam M and the push-pull signals obtained from sub beams A and B are subject to operation to effect control to remove the offset of the tracking error signal.
An optical storage medium of a phase change method, used for a DVD player or the like, has a recorded portion and an unrecorded portion that differ in reflectance of light from each other. Thus, for example when preceding sub beam A moves from the recorded portion to the unrecorded portion, there occurs a state where the unrecorded portion is irradiated with the preceding sub beam A while the recorded portion is irradiated with the succeeding sub beam B. In such a state, only the detected signal of sub beam A experiences a change by an amount corresponding to the change of the reflectance. Using the detected signals of both the preceding and succeeding beams for the operation can reduce the deficiency in removal of the offset of the tracking error signal by the changed amount of the reflectance. Accordingly, when the DPP method is applied to the phase-change type optical storage medium, it is necessary to carry out an operation by detecting the signals of both sub beams A and B arranged before and after main beam M on the surface of the optical storage medium.
The applicant has proposed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-273666 an optical pickup device provided with an optical miniaturized module that can employ the DPP method. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the optical miniaturized module disclosed therein. FIG. 5A is a schematic cross sectional view of the optical miniaturized module. The optical miniaturized module includes a semiconductor laser 105 as a source of light, a three-beam diffraction grating 106 for dividing the light, a composite prism 107 for separating the laser light emitted from the light source and its reflected light from each other, a hologram element 109 for dividing the reflected light, and a photodetector 110.
Lased light 119 from semiconductor laser 105 is divided by three-beam diffraction grating 106 into main beam M and two sub beams A and B. These three beams pass through a polarization beam splitter (PBS) surface 107a formed at composite prism 107, and are directed via a ¼ wave plate 108 to a collimate lens (not shown). In FIG. 5A, sub beams A and B are not shown for the sake of simplicity of the drawing. Reflected light 120 from an optical storage medium in the form of an optical disk passes through ¼ wave plate 108, is reflected at PBS surface 107a and a reflective mirror surface 107b, and is incident on hologram element 109, where it is diffracted to enter photodetector 110.
The light emitted from semiconductor laser 105 passes through PBS surface 107a in the state of linearly polarized light in the X direction (P polarization) shown in FIG. 5A. It is then transformed into a circularly polarized light at ¼ wave plate 108, to irradiate the optical disk. The reflected light from the optical disk reenters ¼ wave plate 108, where it becomes a polarized light in the Y direction (S polarization) and is reflected at PBS surface 107a. As such, lased light 119 and reflected light 120 are separated from each other at PBS surface 107a.
FIG. 5B illustrates the optical miniaturized module as seen through from above. Three-beam diffraction grating 106 is arranged approximately at the center of the optical miniaturized module, and hologram element 109 is arranged to its side. Composite prism 107 is formed to cover three-beam diffraction grating 106 and hologram element 109.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the positional relation of the hologram element and the laser light incident on the hologram element based on a conventional technique. Hologram element 109 includes a first parting line 51 that is defined in the X direction optically corresponding to the radial direction as the optical disk rotates, and a second parting line 52 that is defined in the Y direction optically corresponding to the track direction. First and second parting lines 51 and 52 partition hologram element 109 into three areas of d area 64, e area 65 and f area 66. With hologram element 109 being in a circular shape in a plane, first parting line 51 is defined to correspond to the diameter of the circle at the perimeter of hologram element 109, and second parting line 52 is defined to correspond to the radius of the circle of hologram element 109 and to be perpendicular to first parting line 51.
Main beam M is incident on a main beam M incident area 45. Main beam M incident area 45 is arranged in an approximately circular shape in a plane, coaxial with the circle at the perimeter of hologram element 109. Sub beam A is incident on a sub beam A incident area 46, which is arranged offset from main beam M incident area 45 in the Y direction. Sub beam B is incident on a sub beam B incident area 47, which is also arranged offset from main beam M incident area 45 in the Y direction. Sub beam A incident area 46 and sub beam B incident area 47 each intersect first and second parting lines 51 and 52. That is, each of these sub beam incident areas is arranged to include respective parts of the three partitioned areas of hologram element 109.
FIG. 7 schematically illustrates photodetector 110 for detecting reflected lights and an operation unit 190 for performing operations on signals obtained from the photodetector. Photodetector 110 receives reflected lights in three rows. They include a 0th-order diffracted light incident on the row indicated by an arrow 204, a +1st-order diffracted light incident on the row indicated by an arrow 205, and a −1st-order diffracted light incident on the row indicated by an arrow 206. Photodetector 110 includes light receiving portions 121-126 for receiving the light diffracted in the +1st-order direction by the hologram element, and light receiving portions 127-129 for receiving the light diffracted in the −1st-order direction. Here, signals output from light receiving portions 121-129 are represented as S121-S129, respectively. Although the 0th-order diffracted light is not shown in FIG. 5A, it occurs in a small amount. Thus, in FIG. 7, portions on which the 0th-order diffracted light impinges are shown in the row indicated by arrow 204.
In FIG. 7, a reference character has been allotted to each portion on which laser light impinges in the following manner. The first letter of the reference character indicates whether it is a transmitted light or a diffracted light. Specifically, "5" represents the +1st-order diffracted light, "6" represents the −1st-order diffracted light, and "4" represents the 0th-order diffracted light (transmitted light). The second letter indicates whether it is main beam M or sub beam A or B. "M" represents main beam M, and "A" and "B" represent sub beams A and B, respectively. The third letter indicates where in the polarization hologram the light was divided. "d" represents the light diffracted in the d area. "e" represents the light diffracted in the e area, and "f" represents the light diffracted in the f area. For example, of the impinging portions of the laser light, the one denoted by "5Md" indicates the +1st-order diffracted light of main beam M, which was diffracted in the d area of the polarization hologram. The 0th-order diffracted light is denoted by only the first two letters, such as "4M".
In FIG. 7, of the reflected light of main beam M, the +1 st-order diffracted light diffracted in d area 64 of the hologram element (see FIG. 6) is detected at a gap portion between the neighboring light receiving portions 123 and 124. The −1st-order diffracted light is detected at light receiving portion 128. Further, of the reflected light of main beam M, the −1st-order diffracted light from the e area of the hologram element is received at light receiving portion 129, and the −1st-order diffracted light from the f area is detected at light receiving portion 127.
As to sub beam A, the +1st-order diffracted light diffracted in the e area is detected at light receiving portion 122, and the +1st-order diffracted light diffracted in the f area is detected at light receiving portion 126. As to sub beam B, the +1st-order diffracted light diffracted in the e area is detected at light receiving portion 121, and the +1st-order diffracted light diffracted in the f area is detected at light receiving portion 125. The signals detected by photodetector 110 for the lights divided by the hologram element are processed in the following manner.
A focus error signal (FES) is calculated by the following expression (1).FES=S123−S124   (1)
A tracking error signal (TES4) may be obtained from the following expression (2), based on the push-pull method using S129 and S127. However, from the above-described reasons, an operation method based on the DPP method is primarily employed, where push-pull signals TES4, TES(A) and TES(B) are obtained from main beam M and sub beams A and B, respectively, and then, TES5 is calculated as shown by the following expression (3).
                              TES                                                              4                =                              S                                                                          129                    -                      S                                                                          127                                              (        2        )                                                                                TES                                                  (                  A                  )                                            =                              (                                                      S                                                                                122                                    -                                      S                                                                                126                                                  )                                                                                TES                                                  (                  B                  )                                            =                              (                                                      S                                                                                121                                    -                                      S                                                                                125                                                  )                                                                                TES                                                                                5                            =                                                TES                                                                                4                                -                                  k                                                        (                                                                  TES                                                                          (                          A                          )                                                                    +                                              TES                                                                          (                          B                          )                                                                                )                                                                                =                                                (                                                            S                                                                                129                                        -                                          S                                                                                127                                                        )                                -                                  k                                                        {                                                                  (                                                                              S                                                                                122                                                    -                                                      S                                                                                126                                                                          )                                            +                                              (                                                                              S                                                                                121                                                    -                                                      S                                                                                125                                                                          )                                                              }                                                                                (        3        )
In the above expression (3), a constant k is for compensation of a difference in intensity of the main and sub beams. For example, in the case where the relative ratio in light intensity of the reflected lights of main beam M and sub beams A and B for calculation of TES5 is a:b:c, then k is obtained by k=a/(2b). Further, at the time of reproduction of an optical disk recorded with bit information, a phase contrast of S129 and S127 may be detected to thereby obtain TES6 by a differential phase detection (DPD) method, as in the following expression, which is indicated for reference.TES6=S129−S127
A recorded information signal (RF) is obtained by the following expression (4).RF=S127+S128+S129   (4)
Operation unit 190 in FIG. 7 schematically shows circuits for performing the operations indicated by the expression (3) above. A subtracter 194 calculates TES4, and subtracters 191 and 192 calculates TES(A) and TES(B), respectively. An adder 193 calculates TES(A)+TES(B), which is multiplied by constant k by an amplifier 195. A subtracter 196 calculates TES5 by the DPP method.
As described above, in order to apply the DPP method to an optical pickup device for the phase-change type optical storage medium, it is necessary to detect two sub beams formed before and after main beam M in the track direction of the optical storage medium. Further, in an optical miniaturized module based on the conventional technique using the DPP method, as shown in FIG. 7, four light receiving portions in total are required for detecting the reflected lights of two sub beams A and B, i.e., light receiving portions 122, 126 for detection of sub beam A and light receiving portions 121, 125 for detection of sub beam B. This increases an area occupied by the photodetector, hindering downsizing of the optical miniaturized module. The increase in number of photodetectors increases the cost as well.
Further, since calculation of signals TES(A) and TES (B) involves four light receiving portions 121, 122, 125 and 126, the number of calculators increases, resulting in complicated circuit configuration.

Optical miniaturized module, optical pickup device, and optical disk device provided with light source and photodetector


An abuse deterrent pharmaceutical composition including a drug susceptible to abuse, a first acid soluble ingredient, a first buffering ingredient, and a delayed release buffering component.

The class of drugs exhibiting opium or morphine-like properties are referred to as opioids, or opioid agonists. As agonists, certain drugs are characterized as interacting with stereo specific and saturable binding sites in the brain and other body tissues and organs. Endogenous opioid-like peptides are present in areas of the central nervous system that are presumed to be related to the perception of pain, to movement, mood and behavior, and to the regulation of neuroendocrinological functions. Three classical opioid receptor types, mu (μ), delta (δ), and kappa (κ), have been studied extensively. Each of these receptors has a unique anatomical distribution in the brain, spinal cord, and the periphery. Most of the clinically used opioids are relatively selective for μ receptors, reflecting their similarity to morphine. However, opioid containing drugs that are relatively selective for a particular receptor subtype at standard therapeutic doses will often interact with multiple receptor subtypes when given at sufficiently high doses, leading to possible changes in their pharmacological effect. This is especially true as opioid doses are escalated to overcome tolerance.
Repeated opioid use leads to potential development of tolerance, physical, and/or psychological dependence, i.e., addiction, which is a characteristic feature of most drugs containing opioid analgesics.
Attempts have been made to diminish the abuse potential of orally administered drugs, including opioids. These attempts generally centered on the inclusion in the oral dosage form of an opioid antagonist which is not orally active but which will substantially block the analgesic effects of the opioid if one attempts to dissolve the opioid and administer it parenterally.
Despite all attempts however, the misuse and abuse of pharmaceutical products continues to increase. There is a growing need for novel and effective methods and compositions to deter abuse of pharmaceutical products (e.g., orally administered pharmaceutical products), including but not limited to immediate release, sustained or extended release and delayed release formulations for drugs subject to abuse. In particular, such methods and compositions would be useful for opioid analgesics, for patients seeking drug therapy, which deter abuse and minimize or reduce the potential for physical or psychological dependency.

Methods and compositions for self-regulated release of active pharmaceutical ingredients


A method of forming silicon carbide Schottky diode is disclosed. The processes required two photo-masks only. The processes are as follows: firstly, an n+-silicon carbide substrate having an n− silicon carbide drift layer is provided. Then a silicon layer is formed on the drift layer. An ion implant is carried out to dope the silicon layer. Afterward the doped silicon layer is patterned to define an active region. A thermal oxidation is then followed to form a thick oxide layer by oxidizing the silicon layer and form guard rings by using the doped silicon layer as a diffused source. The thin oxide layer on the drift layer is then removed by dilute HF dip or by BOE (buffer oxide etching) solution dip. Thereafter, a top metal layer is deposited and patterned to define as anode. After a backside layer removal, a metal layer served as cathode is formed.

Currently, in the power device market, power transistors with breakdown voltage over 100V are mostly occupied by silicon base insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). However, owing to the bipolar carriers characteristic of IGBT devices, the devices will suffer problems of the lifetime of the minority carriers while switching the device Consequently, if it is not possible to add lifetime killers in—during manufacturing, the system having IGBT devices would have to tolerate the power consumption and time waste while—switching IGBT devices.
By contrast, silicon base metal oxide semiconductor field transistors have a with mono-carrier species, and as a result, provide faster switch speed and less extra power consumption than those bipolar IGBTs. This is because silicon carbide has a large energy band gap of about 3.26 eV, a high critical breakdown electric field intensity and a high conductivity (4.9 W/cm-k) and is envisioned as an excellent material for the power transistor. The power transistor based on silicon carbide can achieve a breakdown voltage of 1000V without suffering any difficulty. The breakage voltage can even come up to 5 kV if the epi-layer thickness is appropriately adjusted.
Thus, it is desired to develop a silicon carbide base power transistor replacement for silicon IGBT or Schottky barrier diodes.
FIG. 6 shows an elementary structure of a Schottky diode. The structure includes a heavily-doped n-type substrate 10, an n-type epitaxial layer 20 properly doped to have the desired Schottky threshold and a silicon oxide 25 having a window for forming a Schottky contact, which is formed of a top metal layer 50. The cathode electrode 70 is formed on the rear surface of the substrate 10.
Such a structure, however, has a very poor breakdown voltage. Indeed, the equipotential surfaces tend to curve up to rise back to the surface. As a result, the curved areas of the equipotential surfaces, have very strong field variations that limit the possible reverse breakdown voltage.
A modified structure is shown in FIG. 7, in which peripheral p+ guard rings 60 are formed at the periphery of the Schottky diode area. To form the p+ guard rings 60, an additional oxide layer 30 is formed. As a result, the equipotential surfaces must pass in volume under the p regions and thus have a less pronounced curvature. This considerably improves the voltage withstand of the diode. However, the p-type guard ring cannot be made in a structure formed on a silicon carbide substrate. In fact, a diffusion annealing for a p-type dopant would require temperatures on the order of 1700° C., which raises acute technological problems.
An object of the present is thus to provide a method to overcome above problem.

Silicon carbide Schottky diode and method of making the same


Apparatus and methods configured for cyclonic froth separation are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: provide slurry into a first volute; provide fluid communication between the first volute and an interior of a porous barrier; receive pressurized gaseous fluid through a body wall to an exterior of the porous barrier; provide fluid communication between the exterior of the porous barrier and the interior of the porous barrier; facilitate flows of pressurized gas through the porous barrier; receive outputted froth and output froth to the exterior of the apparatus; provide fluid communication between the interior of the porous barrier and the second volute; retain froth within the interior of the porous barrier; receive slurry exhausted from the interior of the porous barrier; provide fluid communication of exhausted slurry to the exterior of the apparatus.

Hydrocyclones for separation of particles and liquids are known however existing devices present issues with clogging of the device during execution of the separation process and relatively high hydrodynamic loss due to unrecovered kinetic energy. A device may perform the particle separation process until the device has been clogged, thereby rendering the device unable to perform separation until user intervention is applied to unclog the device. An apparatus to prevent clogging of the device not appear to be known in the art.

Aerated hydrocyclone apparatus and method for cyclonic froth separation


The present invention provides a system and method for generating models of a computer system. The method involves generating an original model of a computer system in an original configuration, and performing an original series of changes of the original model to yield an intermediate model. The original series of changes is recorded. The method further involves tracking the actual configuration of the computer system so as to detect a revised configuration of the computer system. Then, a resultant model is generated that corresponds to the computer system in a potential resultant system configuration that would result from a series of reconfigurations corresponding to said original series of changes or a revision thereof being applied to the system in its revised configuration rather than in its original configuration.

Herein, related art may be discussed to put the invention in context. Related art labeled "prior art" is admitted prior art; related art not labeled "prior art" is not admitted prior art.
In data centers, computer systems are often reconfigured to expand capabilities or more effectively utilize existing resources. The performance, utilization, or other metric resulting from a proposed reconfiguration can be estimated by modeling the proposed reconfiguration and its operation. The model for the reconfiguration is typically reached by modifying a model of an actual configuration. However, the process of reconfiguring and evaluating models may extend over days, weeks, or months. In the meantime, some actual reconfigurations may have taken place, either due to an unplanned failure or some upgrade or modification that is not coordinated with the main reconfiguration planning processor. In that case, the reconfiguration process may have to be restarted from the new actual configuration. The present invention addresses this and other problems as is apparent from the description below with reference to the following drawings.

Computer system model generation with tracking of actual computer system configuration

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a protective armor system may include a first armor layer. The protective armor system may also include a plate that is detachably coupled to the first armor layer. The protective armor system may also have a second armor layer that is separated from the plate by a gap. When the plate is struck by a projectile, it may be operable to increase the surface area of the tip of the projectile as the projectile accelerates the plate through the gap.

Explosively formed penetrators or explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) may be a deadly threat on a battlefield. EFPs may be able to penetrate the armor of an armored vehicle. The penetration of the armor may cause behind armor effects, such as spall. Spall is the armor fragments that break away from the armor of a vehicle as an EFP penetrates it. These armor fragments may be extremely hot and may be accelerated to extremely high velocities. Therefore, these fragments may hit and damage equipment and injure or kill personnel within a vehicle.
An EFP may be capable of penetrating a thickness of armor that is equal to the diameter of the EFP's charge. An EFP may penetrate by exhibiting fluid-like behavior that causes the EFP to take the shape of a penetrator. This formation is due to the explosive force and the shock wave acting on a metal liner that is part of the EFP. Because an EFP is capable of penetrating thick armor from a distance, equipping a vehicle with enough armor to protect against the threat of an EFP may cause the vehicle to be overweight, and thus be less effective on the battlefield.


A digital communication system communicates data between a transmitter station and a receiver station by means of a carrier wave. The transmitter station has a packet assembler for assembling data having an original format into a packet, an encoder for encoding the data in the packet from an initial eight-bit form into a fourteen-bit form, and a modulator for modulating a carrier wave by the encoded data so as to transmit the packet of encoded data in the fourteen-bit form. The receiver station has a demodulator receptive of the modulated carrier wave for demodulating the same to separate therefrom the packet of encoded data, a decoder for decoding the encoded data in the packet from the fourteen-bit form into the initial eight-bit form, and a packet disassembler for disassembling the packet of decoded data to restore the original format of the data having the initial eight-bit form.

The present invention relates to a digital communication system, which can perform a highly reliable digital communication at low cost by digital modulation after a packet process and an 8 bit-14 bit encoding (EFM) process for desired data at a transmission station.
Conventionally, a karaoke performing apparatus has means for transferring a song data read out from an optical disc such as a CD (compact disc), as shown in FIG. 2 (for example, see Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-119788). Specifically, double phase shift keying (2 PSK) modulation is performed at an RF modulator 2 according to EFIM data, such as, karaoke performance data, which is reproduced from a CD player 1, and the modulated output is transmitted to an RF demodulator 4 via a transmission cable 3. At the demodulator 4, the transmitted output is demodulated to pick up therefrom the EFM data, which is then supplied to an EFM decoder 5. At the decoder 5, the EFM data is decoded, and the decoded data is supplied to a D/A converter 6. An analog signal from the converter 6 is supplied to a sound system 8 along with a singing voice signal from a microphone 7 so as to generate mixed sounds.
According to the foregoing data transfer system, since the digital transmission system and an error correction process is performed at the EFM decoder 5 and the like, the highly reliable data transmission is possible as compared with an analog transmission system. However, there is inconvenience that recorded data can be transmitted in only one way. On the other hand, as a further highly reliable digital communication system than that shown in FIG. 2, a system of quadruplex PSK (4 PSK) modulation type is used in a satellite broadcast (BS), which, however, is inconvenient in that encoding for modulations is complicated, leading to high cost.

Digital communication system using packet assembling/disassembling and eight-to-fourteen bit encoding/decoding


A method and apparatus for generating an index entry for a record in a semi-structured database involves analysing each field to identify an entry within each field and to identify a sequence of characters having a format corresponding to a predetermined format. Thereafter, the method and apparatus operate to generate an index entry for the identified entry, and for at least one field, define any characters not identified as an entry as a free text entry.

Previously, there have been two major approaches to accessing data stored in electronic format. The first process is known as information retrieval and operates on a strict string search approach. Accordingly, if a user is to enter a query in the form of a keyword, using the information retrieval technique, the entire database will be searched for a string which matches the keyword. Obviously, such a system suffers from the drawback that it may well miss relevant entries should the form of the word in the database differ slightly to the form of the keyword. This problem can be overcome by using a stemming technique in which the keyword is truncated and a global word ending added. Again however this suffers from the drawback that numerous irrelevant records can then be located which include similar keywords.
In the second approach, known as knowledge representation, all the information from the database must be precoded using a special knowledge representation language to form a new database. This requires an operator to scan and analyse the data, placing relevant information in different knowledge representation fields. Once this has been completed, this allows users to access the information by entering queries in a knowledge representation language. This uses logic and theorem proving and is therefore not immediately accessible to users without specialised knowledge. In addition to this, knowledge representation approaches suffer from a drawback that the databases are initially hard to create and once created, even harder to change.
Both of the above mentioned techniques are anyway unsuitable for use with data stored in a semi-structured format. A semi-structured database is a database in which some of the data within the database is stored in specific fields which denote the type of data whereas the remainder of the data will simply be stored under a general field, such as a free text field.
Databases of this form are generally created by either scanning in hardcopy records having predetermined formats, or having an operator enter data manually. However, because of the versatility of free text type fields, the data entered may vary in content and style. Whilst this reduces restrictions on the data that can be entered, making the database easier to create, it does mean that the different types of data stored cannot be determined by identifying the field in which the data is stored. Examples of cases were data is stored in such a semi-structured format include the Yellow Pages® directory, Exchange and Mart, Loot, and The British National Formulary.
Thus, for example, in the Yellow Pages® directory, the headings of various sections will be stored in a record that is designated as a heading field. Each individual advert (hereinafter referred to as an item) will include a name field and a free text field. A name entry is stored in the name field, whereas a free text entry, such as a description of the companies products or services, an address entry and a telephone number entry, will all be stored in the same free text field.
Accordingly, if information retrieval were applied to the Yellow Pages® directory, a search for a keyword would search through all the headings, company names and the free text. As the type of data is not accounted for, a heading may be located as a relevant result, when in fact the items associated with that heading are the results required. On the other hand, a knowledge representation technique of searching the database, would require that the database be translated into a separate knowledge representation database which could then be searched using knowledge representation techniques. The original Yellow Pages® data would then be redundant, although if it were updated a new knowledge representation database would be required.

British Telecommunications public limited company


A valve apparatus can be used to select between a cold or a hot coolant for heat exchange, this selection depending on whether an attached heat exchanger is to operate as a cooler or a heater. The apparatus includes a valve housing with first and second chambers formed therein, first inlet and outlet ports for flow of a primary liquid into and out of the first chamber and further ports for flow of coolant at different temperatures through the second chamber. A linear actuator in the housing has a body containing wax and a plastic piston that is movable to an extended position by expansion of the wax. The actuator body is located in the first chamber so the temperature of the wax is dependent on the liquid's temperature in the first chamber. An end portion of the actuator adjacent to the second chamber is made of plastic. A valve mechanism for controlling coolant flow is operably connected to the piston and located in the second chamber. This mechanism includes a spool movable by the actuator.

This invention relates to valve apparatus for regulating flow of heat exchange liquid such as coolant, depending on the temperature of a second liquid, such as transmission oil.
A variety of systems are known for regulating the temperature of a liquid, such as oil, using a heat exchanger or an oil cooler. In particular, it is known that one can regulate the temperature of oil used in a transmission with the objective of maintaining the temperature of the oil within a desirable temperature range so the temperature of the oil is neither too hot nor too cold. In one particular system for regulating the temperature of transmission oil by means of an oil cooler, a mixing valve is provided which is able to direct either hot coolant from a vehicle engine, for example, or cold coolant flowing from a radiator, for example, through the heat exchanger so that the heat exchanger works as a heater or as a cooler. A known form of mixing valve for regulating the temperature of a liquid such as coolant includes a valve housing having first and second chambers formed therein as well as inlet and outlet ports for the flow of a liquid into and out of the first chamber. Further ports are provided in the housing for the flow of coolant at either an elevated temperature or at a lower temperature into and out of the second chamber. A linear actuator in the form of a wax motor is mounted in the first chamber and has an actuator body which contains the wax and a piston movable to an extended position by expansion of the wax when the temperature of the wax is increased to a predetermined level. Since a substantial portion of the actuator body is located in the first chamber, the temperature of the actuator body and its wax is determined to some extent at least by the temperature of the liquid flowing through the first chamber. A valve mechanism including a valve spool is operable by the linear actuator with one end of the spool being operably connected to the piston for movement therewith. The valve mechanism is located in the second chamber of the housing and is capable of controlling the flow of both coolant at the elevated temperature and coolant at the lower temperature through the second chamber.
One difficulty with this known mixing valve is that it is possible for the temperature of the wax in the wax motor actuator to be influenced by not only the temperature of the liquid flowing through the first chamber but also the temperature of the coolant in the second chamber since one end of the wax motor actuator and its piston is either adjacent to or in the second chamber. The influence of the temperature of the coolant can at least in some cases adversely affect the proper operation of the wax motor actuator.
Another difficulty with the aforementioned known mixing valve is that it requires a number of separate components or parts mounted within the valve housing for the purpose of mounting the linear actuator. In particular, in this known construction, a separate, cylindrical retainer cap is mounted in the housing between the first and second chambers and is held in place by means of a retainer clip. An end section of the wax motor actuator is mounted in this retainer cap. The annular joint between the retainer cap and the housing is sealed by an O-ring extending around the cap and an additional O-ring is required to seal the joint between the cap and the actuator.
A further difficulty with the aforementioned known mixing valve is that the valve housing employs a separate end fitting which forms one end of the second chamber and which is held in the main body of the valve housing by means of a retainer clip. This end fitting, which forms one inlet for coolant to flow into the second chamber, has mounted therein a separate valve spool supporting member which is mounted within the inlet passage by means of a retainer clip.

Valve apparatus for regulating a heat exchange liquid


An electric wire holding case which prevents oil from leaking through an electric wire extending into the oil cover of a transmission case or the like. A body and a lid-like holder are included; a partition wall having electric wire insertion holes is provided inside the cylindrical portion of the body; partition chambers are defined on the wall in such a manner that the chambers communicate with the holes at one end of each of the chambers and are open at the other ends thereof; the holder has electric wire insertion holes, and resin injection holes; an engagement member is secured to the exposed portion and accommodated in the chamber corresponding thereto; the chamber is closed at the latter end thereof by the holder; and the resin, which has a softness after being set, is filled into the chamber through the resin injection hole and solidified in the chamber.

The present invention relates to an electric wire holding case which prevents oil from leaking through an electric wire extending into the oil cover of a transmission case or the like.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinally sectional view of a conventional electric wire holding case B which prevents oil from leaking through electric wires 51a and 51b extending into the oil cover 41 of a transmission case and was disclosed in the Japan Patent Examined Publication No. Hei. 1-59467. The case B has a cylindrical body 40, and a rubber plug 52. The body 40 is made of a synthetic resin and secured in the hole 45 of the oil cover 41 at an engagement claw 43 and a flange 44 which are provided on the peripheral portion of the body. A reference numeral 42 in FIG. 4 shows the interior of the transmission case. An O-ring 46 is fitted in the peripheral portion of the case body 40 to seal the portion to prevent the oil from leaking through between the portion and the oil cover 41. The conductors 49a and 49b of the electric wires 51a and 51b are exposed by peeling the insulators 48a and 48b thereof at one end of each of the wires, and then connected to each other by a terminal 50. The electric wires 51a and 51b are laid inside the inner portion 47 of the case body 40. The rubber plug 52 is fitted in the inner portion 47 at one end thereof. The insulator-unpeeled portion of the wire 51a is laid through the rubber plug 52 so that the wire is sealed on the insulator 48a thereof by the plug. A synthetic resin 52, which is such as an epoxy resin and hardens when being set, is filled and solidified inside the inner portion 47 at the other end thereof so that the exposed conductors 49a and 49b of the electric wires 51a and 51b are embedded in the resin. The conductors 49a and 49b are exposed for one purpose of connecting them to each other, and another purpose of causing the resin 52 to stop the oil coming through between the insulator 48a and conductor 49a of the electric wire 51a due to capillary attraction. A waterproof cover 55 of rubber is fitted on the body 40 of the holding case B around the electric wire 51b. Since the resin 52 is solidified to firmly adhere to the inner surface 53 of the case body 40, the joint 54 of the conductors 49a and 49b is firmly held to prevent the electric wires 51a and 51b from going out of the holding case B. However, since the resin 52 is solidified to harden, it does not follow the conductors 49a and 49b in the thermal expansion and contraction thereof well enough and is likely to undergo a crack to let the oil leak. This is a problem. Besides, it is difficult to position the joint 54 of the conductors 49a and 49b in the body 40 of the holding case B in embedding the joint therein. This is also a problem.

Electric wire holding case preventing of oil leak


Two continuously variable transmission parts are connected to a common driven train through a pick-off gear so as to provide an entire continuously variable transmission operating with high efficiency even at high torques.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a continuously variable transmission including two continuously variable transmission parts that are parallely disposed in a gear train.
2. Prior Art
Such a transmission is known from U.S. Pat. No. 1,709,346 for example, a central bevel gear being driven in these arrangements, said central bevel gear interacting through a respective friction ring with one or a plurality of oppositely directed output bevel gears oriented to be axially parallel with the input bevel gear and having their outer surface at a constant spacing from said input bevel gear. The friction rings are displaceable along a respective one of the gaps through a common frame so that a transmission ratio may be continuously varied between the input bevel gear and the output bevel gears. The respective ones of the driven members of the driven bevel gears are connected to the planet wheels of a planetary gear so that a torque applied by the input bevel gear is distributed to the respective ones of the driven bevel gears and added up again through the planetary gear, a constant rpm of the planet wheels and of the driven bevel gears being enforced by coupling the planet wheels. Although this arrangement solves the problem arising with such type bevel friction ring gears as well as with other continuously variable transmissions (CVT), which is that at high torques the continuous variability causes slippage that can only be prevented from occurring with high press-on forces and the resulting losses in efficiency. It however involves the major problem that the smallest manufacturing tolerances or inaccuracies will result in ulterior friction losses.