The invention relates to coating compositions containing:

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a coating composition containing a mixture of ultraviolet(UV)-curable urethane (meth)acrylates containing isocyanate groups and UV-curable urethane (meth)acrylates containing hydroxyl groups, and to the preparation of coatings from these compositions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
EP-A 928 800 (believed to correspond to copending U.S. Ser. No. 09/225,977) describes coating compositions containing:
a) a urethane (meth)acrylate that contains (meth)acryloyl groups and free isocyanate groups,
b) optionally, a further polyisocyanate,
c) a UV initiator that initiates the radical polymerization and
d) one or more compounds that react with isocyanates.
Furthermore, EP-A 928 800 teaches a process in which surfaces are prepared by UV-initiated radical polymerization and the final properties are produced by subsequent NCO reaction. In this process curing of the coating at unexposed or poorly exposed points by NCO reaction ensures a xe2x80x9cminimum necessary resistance levelxe2x80x9d. The examples show, however, that the NCO reaction proceeds to completion only as a result of brief heating (30 min, 130xc2x0 C.) or by standing (7 d) at room temperature for several days.
For some applications, in particular for the coating of heat-sensitive articles or articles that cannot be economically heated to temperatures of approximately 130xc2x0 C. because of their size and geometry, a curing of the lacquer even without heating and, optionally, without UV exposure is required within a few hours.
It was found that coating compositions that contain urethane (meth)acrylates also containing hydroxyl groups in addition to urethane (meth)acrylates containing isocyanate groups have a substantially improved curing, than compared to coating compositions according to the prior art, especially in unexposed areas.
The invention relates to a coating composition comprising:
a) urethane (meth)acrylates that contain (meth)acryloyl groups and free isocyanate groups,
b) urethane (meth)acrylates that contain (meth)acryloyl groups and free hydroxyl groups,
c) a UV initiator that initiates radical polymerization and
d) optionally, one or more compounds that react with isocyanates.
Preferably, the present coating composition is prepared in two components, wherein component I preferably contains constituent a) and component II contains constituents b), c) and d).
To achieve or improve weathering resistance, the following may optionally be added preferably to component II:
e) a UV absorber having an absorption range up to a maximum of 390 nm,
f) a HALS (hindered amine light stabilizer);
g) lacquer additives, such as flow control agents or deaerating agents and
h) catalysts for accelerating the NCO reaction.
For the purpose of dilution, components I and II may each contain a solvent that is inert with respect to isocyanate groups and Cxe2x95x90C double bonds, such as esters, ketones, ethers, ether esters, alkanes or aromatic solvents, such as xylene or toluene.
Component I and component II are combined to provide an equivalent ratio of the NCO groups and the NCO-reactive groups of 2:1 to 0.8:1, preferably of 1.2:1 to 0.8:1.
Compounds a) are prepared from alcohols containing (meth)acryloyl groups and polyisocyanates. Processes for preparing urethane (meth)acrylates are known and are described, for example, in DE-A 1 644 798, DE-A 2 115 373 or DE-A 2 737 406. A review can be found in Chemistry and Technology of UV and EB Formulations for Coatings, Inks and Paints, by P. K. T. Oldring (ed.), vol. 2, 1991, SITA Technology, London, pages 73-123. For the urethane (meth)acrylates containing free isocyanate groups, the molar ratio of NCO groups of the polyisocyanates to the OH groups of the alcohols containing (meth)acryloyl groups is from 1:0.2 to 1:0.8, preferably from 1:0.3 to 1:0.6, particularly preferably 1:0.4 to 1:0.5.
Alcohols containing (meth)acryloyl groups include the esters of acrylic acid or (meth)acrylic acid with dihydric alcohols. Examples include 2-hydroxyethyl, 2- or 3-hydroxypropyl or 2-, 3- or 4-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate and any mixture of such compounds. In addition, monohydric alcohols containing (meth)acryloyl groups or reaction products substantially composed of such alcohols that are obtained by esterification of n-hydric alcohols with (meth)acrylic acid are suitable. Mixtures of various alcohols can be used, such that n stands for an integer or a statistical average of greater than 2 to 4, preferably 3. Per mole of the alcohols mentioned, from (nxe2x88x920.6) to (nxe2x88x922.2), preferably from (nxe2x88x920.8) to (nxe2x88x921.2), and particularly preferably (nxe2x88x921) moles of (meth)acrylic acid are used. These compounds or product mixtures include the reaction products of (i) trihydric alcohols such as glycerol, trimethylol propane and/or pentaerythritol; low-molecular-weight alkoxylation products of such alcohols (such as ethoxylated or propoxylated trimethylolpropane more specifically the addition product of ethylene oxide to trimethylolpropane having an OH number of 550); or mixtures of at least trihydric alcohols with dihydric alcohols (such as, ethylene glycol or propylene glycol) with
(ii) (meth)acrylic acid in the stated molar ratio. Said compounds have a molecular weight of 116 to 1000, preferably 116 to 750 and more preferably 116 to 158.
Furthermore, the reaction products of said monohydric alcohols containing (meth)acryloyl groups with, for example, xcex5-caprolactone can also be used. Such products can be obtained, for example, as Tone Monomer 100 supplied by Union Carbide. These compounds have a molecular weight of 230 to 3000, preferably 230 to 1206 and more preferably 344 to 572.
Suitable polyisocyanates include aliphatic, araliphatic and aromatic compounds. Aliphatic compounds are preferred. Examples include butylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate (=2,2,4- and/or 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate), di(isocyanatocyclohexyl)methane, isocyanatomethyl-1,8-octane diisocyanate or their derivatives having a urethane, isocyanurate, allophanate, biuret, uretdione and/or iminooxadiazinedione groups and mixtures of the same. Particularly preferred are the derivatives of HDI and/or IPDI with isocyanurate groups.
The reaction to form urethane (meth)acrylate in accordance with a) can be accelerated in a known manner by means of suitable catalysts, such as tin octoate, dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL) or tertiary amines.
The resultant urethane (meth)acrylate containing free NCO groups is preferably stabilized against premature polymerization, for example by adding suitable inhibitors and antioxidants including phenols, cresols, hydroquinone and, optionally, also quinones, such as, 2,5-di-tert-butylquinone. Suitable additives of this type are described, for example, in xe2x80x9cMethoden der organischen Chemiexe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cMethods of organic chemistryxe2x80x9d) (Houben-Weyl), 4th edition, vol. XIV/1, page 433 ff, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1961.
Said inhibitors are added in amounts of 0.001 to 0.3 wt. % in each case during or following the preparation.
The coating compositions according to the invention can be prepared in solvents that are inert with respect to isocyanate groups and Cxe2x95x90C double bonds, such as esters, ketones, ethers, ether esters, alkanes or aromatic solvents, such as xylene or toluene. Urethane (meth)acrylates that contain (meth)acryloyl groups and free hydroxyl groups (component b)) include reaction products of urethane (meth)acrylates with diols, optionally mixed with polyols.
Aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or, less preferably, aromatic diols can be used as diols, for example ethylene glycol, the isomeric propanediols, butanediols, pentanediols, hexanediols, heptanediols, octanediols, and nonanediols and cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol-A and derivatives of the above mentioned diols substituted with one or more C1-C6-alkyl groups . Also suitable are diols containing ester groups, ether groups such as (3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl propionate or diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and tripropylene glycol. Preferred are neopentyl glycol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2,5-dimethyl-1,6-hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, and 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropyl 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropionate. The diols may also be used in the form of their alkoxylation products (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and C4-ether units). The use of polyester diols is also possible. These include the reaction products of dicarboxilic acids and/or their anhydrides, ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and/or their anhydrides, and lactones (such as xcex5-caprolactone) with the above mentioned diols. Also suitable is cc,co-dihydroxypolyacrylates (for example, Tegomer BD 1000, supplied by Goldschmidt).
Alcohols, having a hydroxy finctionality of greater than 2, should only be used in a minor amount since the viscosity of the binder otherwise becomes too high for most applications. Examples are glycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol and dimethylolpropane or their alkoxylated derivatives, and also hydroxy-functional polymers such as polyacrylates or polyesters.
A photoinitiator component c) may be added for the purpose of curing by high-energy radiation, for example, UV light. These include known photoinitiators described, for example, in Chemistry and Technology of UV and EB Formulations for Coatings, Inks and Paints, by P. K. T. Oldring (ed.), vol. 3, 1991, SITA Technology, London, pages 61-325. Examplesinclude 2-hydroxyphenyl ketones, (for example, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone), benzil ketals, (for example, benzil dimethyl ketal), acylphosphine oxides (for example, bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide or diacylphosphine oxide), and benzophenone and its derivatives. They are used alone or mixed, optionally also together with further accelerators or co-initiators as additive, in amounts of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 2 to 7 parts by weight, particularly preferably 3 to 4 parts by weight, based on solids in the coating composition.
Compounds d) that react with isocyanates include polyols. These can be obtained, for example, by esterifying di- and/or triols, for example neopentyl glycol or trimethylolpropane with di-, tri- or tetracarboxylic acids or their anhydrides, such as, adipic acid, maleic acid or fumaric acid. Suitable hydroxy-functional copolymers are prepared from (meth)acrylic esters, hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate esters and, optionally, styrene and/or other monomers such as acrylonitrile. Also suitable are polyetherpolyols, such as those obtained by alkoxylating diols or polyols. Also suitable are sterically hindered amines, such as those prepared by addition of maleic ester to aliphatic primary diamines.
Compounds d) may additionally contain ethylenically unsaturated groups, for example esters of (meth)acrylic acid. Such compounds are prepared, for example, by preparing hydroxy-functional copolymers, such as polyacrylates, using epoxide-bearing monomers. The epoxide groups are reacted in a further step with (meth)acrylic acid. Also, polyester acrylates or polyether acrylates can also be used, for example those described in Chemistry and Technology of UV and EB Formulations for Coatings, Inks and Paints, by P. K. T. Oldring (ed.), vol. 2, 1991, SITA Technology, London, pages 123-135, provided they have free hydroxyl groups.
To achieve weathering resistance of the cured coating layer, a UV absorber having an absorption range up to 390 nm max. and a HALS stabilizer can preferably be added to the component II. Suitable UV absorbers include the triphenyltriazines, for example Tinuvin 400 (Ciba) or the oxalic acid dianilides, for example Sanduvor 3206 (Clariant). The UV absorbers are preferably added in amounts of, in each case, 0.5 to 3.5% based on the solid binder. Suitable HALS stabilizers include the commercially available, Tinuvin 292 or Tinuvin 123 (Ciba) or Sanduvor 3058 (Clariant). The HALS stabilizers are preferably added in amounts of 0.5 to 2.5%, based on the solid binder.
Lacquer additives g) include deaerating agents, such as polyacrylates, and flow control agents, such as polysiloxanes.
Suitable solvents are solvents that are inert with respect to isocyanate groups and Cxe2x95x90C double bonds, such as esters, ketones, ethers, ether esters, alkanes or aromatic solvents, such as xylene or toluene.
If all the constituents of the coating composition according to the invention are formulated as one component, the system has a limited pot life. A preferred type of formulation is, however, a two-component system, component I containing constituent a) and component II containing constituents b), c) and d) and also, optionally constituents e) to h). The respective components are then storage-stable as long as the constituents themselves. Both components are mixed in the specified ratio prior to application or applied by means of so-called two-component systems.
The coating composition according to the invention can be applied with all the standard application methods, such as spraying, casting or roller application, preferably by means of spray application. The applied coating composition can be cured in the consecutive steps of.
Step 1: By extraction of the optionally added solvents. This takes place at room temperature or elevated temperature, preferably up to 80xc2x0 C.
Step 2: By UV curing with commercial mercury high-pressure and medium-pressure radiators whereby it is possible for the radiators to be doped with other elements. They preferably have a power of 80 to 240 W/cm lamp length.
Step 3: By crosslinking the NCO-containing constituents with the constituents that react with NCO-containing constituents. This may take place above 0C, preferably at or above room temperature or at elevated temperature, advantageously below 150xc2x0 C. Preferably, this reaction takes place at room temperature in the case of heat-sensitive substrates and in the case of applications that make heating of the substrate uneconomical because of its size and/or shape. Thereby curing takes place also at points not exposed during step 2 (for example, folds, wrap-rounds, angles or other concealed points). As expected curing only by the NCOxe2x80x94OH reaction and by physical effects provide coatings that are not as solvent-resistant and scratch-resistant as the coating additionally cured by WV, but the level of resistance in the shaded zones is surprisingly good, as is further explained by the examples.
A possible variation of this curing process is to allow the reaction of the NCO-containing constituents to proceed partly during the WV curing by increasing the ambient temperature.
The invention further relates to coated heat-sensitive articles. Said articles can also assume complex (complicated) three-dimensional shapes that are only accessible with difficulty to curing of the applied coating agent by means of WV radiation alone.

Coating composition containing UV-curable urethane (meth)acrylates containing isocyanate groups and urethane (meth)acrylates containing hydroxyl groups

Abstract: c) the UV initiators that initiate radical polymerization and


To provide access to a bird feeder to desirable species while excluding House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), a loop is mounted above the feeder and extends outwardly a few inches. The excluder is fastened to the bird feeder by staples or adhesives.

This invention relates to techniques and apparatus for selectively excluding certain birds from a feeder while permitting other species to utilize the feeder.
There are prior art apparatuses which permit certain birds to use a feeder while others are excluded. One prior art type of such feeder utilizes selective size holes or the like to exclude larger birds. This prior art type of excluder has the disadvantage of admitting all small birds and excluding all large birds rather than admitting some species and excluding other species, although it is often desirable to permit a species to utilize the feeder without regard to size while excluding others, such as for example excluding full grown adults while permitting young immature House Sparrows to use the feeder.
It is also known from published studies that some species of birds will not fly under elongated wires. This technique has been utilized over fruit fields to exclude certain birds from feeding on the fruit.
These prior art excluders have not been applied to feeders, nor has a practical embodiment been developed useful for small backyard feeders to selectively permit certain species to use the feeders while excluding others, such as for example House Sparrows (Passer domesticus).

The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska


A first planetary gear set includes a first sun gear to which power is input from a hydraulic motor. The first planetary gear set includes a first carrier and a first ring gear. The first carrier and the first ring gear are able to rotate in conjunction with rotation of the first sun gear. A second planetary gear set includes a second sun gear configured so as to rotate integrally with the first carrier. A hydraulic clutch mechanism allows or prohibits the rotation of the first ring gear.

In recent years, machines such as motor graders may be provided with an all-wheel drive device for driving all of the front and rear wheels. Such an all-wheel drive device transfers the engine output to the rear wheels through a transmission so as to drive the rear wheels, and also transfers the engine output to hydraulic pumps so as to drive the right and left front wheels using a pair of hydraulic motors rotating with the discharged oil from the hydraulic pumps.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,600 (PTL 1) discloses an apparatus in which: a torque from a motor is inputted to a sun gear of a first stage planetary gear mechanism, a first stage carrier is coupled to a sun gear of a second stage planetary gear mechanism, a first stage ring gear and a second stage carrier are coupled to a wheel, and a second stage ring gear is coupled to a stationary housing via a clutch mechanism.


A lock includes a locking body, a non-locking body, and at least two shackles each independently removable from both the locking and non-locking body.

Conventional "U" locks utilize a single locking body and a curved shackle, with at least one end detachable from a recess in the locking body. Such locks are utilized frequently to secure bicycles against theft, for instance. "U" locks are bulky and difficult to conveniently store without interfering with operation of a bicycle. The "U" part of the lock creates a large moment arm from its mount, which creates torques on the lock's frame mount. The term "D" lock is also used for this type of lock, because the shape of the shackle.

Lock with independent removable shackles for increased portability


This disclosure relates to a proximity/motion and touch sensor. The proximity/motion and touch sensor includes a proximity/motion driving electrode, a plurality of first proximity/motion sensing electrode, a plurality of second proximity/motion sensing electrode serials, a plurality of first touch electrode serials, and a plurality of second touch electrode serials.

1.Field of the Invention
This document relates to a proximity/motion and touch sensor, and a display device having the same.
2.Discussion of the Related Art
In recent years, various display devices such as a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescent display, and a plasma display panel being driven at a low power consumption, having a quick response speed and an accurate color reproduction rate, have been in the spotlight. The display devices are used for various electronic products such as televisions, monitors for computers, notebook computers, mobile telephones, display units for refrigerators, personal digital assistants, automated teller machines, and the like. In general, the display devices are interfaced with users using various input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a digitizer.
However, when using some input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and digitizer, user's dissatisfaction increases because the user is required to know how to use the input devices and the input devices occupy space. Therefore, a convenient and simple input device that can reduce erroneous operation is needed.
In other instances, there is a need for a touch sensor in which a user can input information by directly contacting a screen with a finger or a pen. Because the touch sensor has a simple configuration, which minimizes erroneous operations, the user can perform an input action without using an input device, and can quickly and easily manipulate a device through contents displayed on a screen. Accordingly, the touch sensor has been applied to various display devices.
A touch sensor integrated with a display device can give users a user interface capable of selecting required functions though touch menus or icons displayed on a screen of the display device. However, the related art touch sensor cannot give users various user interfaces capable of selecting required functions by recognizing user's motion or gesture. For example, with the development of wireless internet technologies, it is possible to easily access internet web sites, voice data services, video data services, electronic book services, and so on using portable information telecommunication devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, tablet personal computers, netbook computers, and notebook computers similar to desktop computers. However, for example, if a user wants to flip through pages of internet web sites or turn up or turn down volume of the voice and video data services, it is inconvenient because the user must be in position to activate displayed menus with the touch sensor.

Proximity/motion and touch sensor and display device having the same


An extensible project system for software development is provided by allowing a flavor, with a specific purpose, to be applied to a base project system. More than one flavor may be applied. Where components are distributed objects, such as where COM (component object model) is used, the project system is assembled by aggregation of a base project object, which contains some data for creating a project system with a flavor object, which modifies the project system. The base project object is the participating object in the aggregation and the flavor object is the controlling object. Multiple flavors may be applied to create a project system intended for multiple purposes, corresponding to the applied flavors.

To develop a software project, the developer(s) may use several development tools. Some tools may be used to assist in writing code for the software project. Tools for building the code, running the code, and debugging the code may also be useful. These tools may be separate or they may be packaged together into an integrated development environment (IDE). Additional tools included in an IDE may include file and library management, among others. An integral part of an IDE is a project system, which is used to tie the tools together.
While a software project is being developed, certain parameters must be known regarding the use of the resulting software project in order for the project system to provide the correct tools and properties. For example, consider the case in which a software project is developed for use with a particular target architecture or platform. The target architecture or platform which the software project is intended to be used with affects many facets of the software project. For example, one architecture currently in use is a 64-bit® architecture known as IA-64®. If the project is being developed for use on an IA-64 platform, there may be a specific IA-64® programming stylesheet which should be followed for the project. This stylesheet should be accessible to the project system so the project system can guide the developer in developing code according to the stylesheet's dictates. Additionally, the developer can use certain tools or toolsets specific to the IA-64®(or to a set of platforms including the IA-64®). For example, the debugger used to debug the project while in development will be specific to the IA-64®. Additionally, tools for running the code in the IA-64 environment may be required by the developer.
Once a project has been developed, if the developer wants to develop a similar project for use on a different architecture, a different project system must be created for developing software for that new architecture, one which includes the correct resources for the architecture, such as stylesheets and debuggers. Development must then occur using the new project system in order to accommodate the change in architecture.
Generally, this reduplication of effort in creation of a new project system occurs whenever a software project is required for a new purpose, even if there had been a previous similar project. One example of a new purpose, as described above, may the use of a different architecture. Other different purposes which may be required include different platforms, components, assemblies, or uses (e.g. use as a web service). The reduplication of effort needed to develop a software package for the new purpose entails a substantial cost of time and other resources.
One way to reduce reduplication of effort is to use templates, for example, enterprise templates as used in MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO.NET®. Software architects frequently evaluate new technologies, explore possible ways to use them, and recommend best practices. Through the use of enterprise templates, software architects can provide guidance to development teams about how to work within an architecture by eliminating many decisions involving component and item choices that should not be part of the developer's burden. Enterprise templates simplifies these choices by dynamically modifying certain integrated development environment (IDE) features in VISUAL STUDIO NET®. Enterprise templates can provide certain beginning project structures and continuous development guidance as components are added, properties exposed, and values assigned.
However, these enterprise templates are limited in their application because of their implementation. First, only one template can be applied at a time. Second, the templates have only limited utility. A template can modify or limit the use of existing functionality in the project system, but it can not add new functionality to the project system. For example, a template can disable or enable toolbox items or menu items which are provided in the project system. A template can also assign a value to a property which can be used in the project system. For example, the background color of a form can be assigned using a template. A template can limit the range of allowed values for a property, such as timeout values. However, no additional functionality can be supplied by use of a template. An additional limitation is that design-time properties (such as Locked or Modifiers in VISUAL STUDIO .NET) can not be controlled through a template.
In view of the foregoing there is a need for a system that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.


Bispecific monoclonal antibodies and methods for treating cancer are set forth herein.

Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death in males, accounting for 14% (903,500) of the total new cancer cases and 6% (258,400) of the total cancer deaths in males worldwide. Metastatic prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. The course of prostate cancer from diagnosis to death is best categorized as a series of clinical stages based on the extent of disease, hormonal status, and absence or presence of detectable metastases: localized disease, rising levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after radiation therapy or surgery with no detectable metastases, and clinical metastases in the non-castrate or castrate stage. Although surgery, radiation, or a combination of both can be curative for patients with localized disease, a significant proportion of these patients have recurrent disease as evidenced by a rising level of PSA, which can lead to the development of metastases, especially in the high-risk group—a transition to the lethal stage of the disease.
Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), is a type II membrane protein that is highly expressed in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), a condition in which some prostate cells have begun to look and behave abnormally, and in primary and metastatic prostate cancers (Bostwick D G, Pacelli A, Blute M, Roche P, Murphy G P. Prostate specific membrane antigen expression in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma: A study of 184 cases. Cancer 1998; 82 (11):2256-2261]. Expression of PSMA in cancer tissues correlates with the stage of disease and Gleason score (Kawakami M, Nakayama J. Enhanced expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen gene in prostate cancer as revealed by in situ hybridization. Cancer Res 1997; 57(12):2321-2324). PSMA expression is also higher in prostate cancer cells from hormone-refractory patients (Wright G L Jr, Grob B M, Haley C, Grossman K, Newhall K, Petrylak D, Troyer J, KonchubaA, Schellhammer P F, Moriarty R. Upregulation of prostate-specific membrane antigen after androgen-deprivation therapy. Urology 1996; 48(2):326-334) and increased PSMA expression has been shown to be an independent marker of disease recurrence (Mitsiades C S, Lembessis P, Sourla A, Milathianakis C, TsintavisA, Koutsilieris M. Molecular staging by RT-pCR analysis for PSA and PSMA in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples is an independent predictor of time to biochemical failure following radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Clin Exp Metastasis 2004; 21(6):495-505). High-level PSMA expression is correlated with early prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence in surgically treated prostate cancer. PSMA expression levels correlate with the aggressiveness of the disease, and thereby strongly support PSMA as an excellent target for prostate cancer characterization and subsequent therapy.
Current treatments for prostate cancer include surgery, radiation and hormone therapies. When prostate cancers grow despite the lowering of testosterone levels by hormone therapy, treatment options are limited. Typically, the cancer vaccine sipuleucel-T, a radiopharmaceutical agent (such as radium-223 chloride), secondary hormone therapies (such as abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone, enzalutamide, or apalutamide), and/or chemotherapies (docetaxel and cabazitaxel) are added to the hormonal therapy in sequence. While each of these treatments can delay growth of the cancer for several months and palliate symptoms produced by the disease, the disease ultimately becomes resistant to them. This underscores the need for more improved treatment and effective therapies for PSMA-expressing advanced prostate cancer.

Methods of treating prostate cancer with an anti-PSMA/CD3 antibody


A push switch is provided with a knob that causes the movable contact point in contact with the fixed contact point to slide thereon by a push operation of the knob, thereby connecting/disconnecting the movable contact point and the fixed contact point. A sliding direction of the movable contact point is set to a direction vertical to the push direction of the knob, and the push operation of the knob allows the movable contact point in contact with the fixed contact point to slide in a direction vertical to the push direction of the knob.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a push switch.
Description of the Related Art
There is known a push switch in which a movable board is moved in an operating direction of a knob by a push operation of the knob to cause a movable contact point provided on the movable board to slide on a fixed contact point (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-243850).
FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a push switch according to a conventional example represented by Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-243850.
In a push switch 100 according to the conventional example, a movable board 104 having a movable contact point 104a is provided in a case 101 configured by assembling a cover 102 and a pole board 103 to be movable forward/backward in an operating direction of a knob 107 (upper-lower direction in FIGS. 6A and 6B).
The movable board 104 is positioned right under the knob 107 in the case 101, and an upper portion thereof is engaged to leg portions 108A and 108B extending downward from the knob 107 by an urging force acting on the movable board 104 from a spring Sp.
In the push switch 100, when the knob 107 moves downward in the side of the pole board 103 by the push operation of the knob 107, the movable board 104 is also pushed by the leg portions 108A and 108B of the knob 107 to move downward in the side of the pole board 103.
The movable contact point 104a is provided to project from a side face of the movable board 104, and makes push-contact with a fixed contact point 103a by an urging force of an unillustrated spring in a direction vertical to an operating direction of the knob 107, wherein the fixed contact point 103a is arranged to be lateral to the movable board 104.
The fixed contact point 103a is provided on a support wall 109 extending upward from the pole board 103, and is provided along a longitudinal direction (upper-lower direction in the figure) of the support wall 109 over a predetermined length.
Therefore, when the movable board 104 moves downward in the side of the pole board 103 by the push operation of the knob 107, the movable contact point 104a moves downward while sliding on a surface of the fixed contact point 103a.
Here, the support wall 109 is provided with a step portion 109a projecting closer to the movable board 104 than the fixed contact point 103a at a lower portion of the pole board 103 in the side of a bottom wall portion 103c. Therefore, when the knob 107 is pushed down from a reference position showed in FIG. 6A to move to an operation position shown in FIG. 6B, the movable contact point 104a gets on the step portion 109a, so that a contact state of the movable contact point 104a with the fixed contact point 103a is eliminated.
In addition, in the push switch 100, the operation of the knob 107 is detected when the movable contact point 104a gets on the step portion 109a to bring in a non-contact state between the movable contact point 104a and the fixed contact point 103a.
In the push switch 100 according to this conventional example, the movable board 104 (movable contact point 104a) positioned right under the knob 107 is moved forward/backward in the same direction as the operating direction of the knob 107 to connector disconnect the movable contact point 104a and the fixed contact point 103a.
Therefore, since it is necessary to ensure a space for moving the knob 107 and the movable board 104 within the case 101, a thickness of the push switch 100 results in becoming increased in the operating direction of the knob 107.
Therefore, in the push switch in which the movable contact point making contact with the fixed contact point is caused to slide to connect or disconnect the movable contact point and the fixed contact point, it is required to thin the thickness of the push switch in the operating direction of the knob.


A thin flat panel style digital television antenna has a radiation layer, a front insulation layer, a rear insulation layer and a connection cable. The radiation layer has a triangular hollow area and an opening formed in one edge thereof to communicate with one angle of the hollow area. The front insulation layer and the rear insulation layer are respectively overlapped on a front surface and a rear surface of the radiation layer to protect and electrically insulate the radiation layer. The radiation layer further has multiple connection holes adjacent to the opening thereof for multiple connection terminals of the connection cable to be respectively connected thereto. Given the foregoing structure, the digital television antenna has a wide frequency band, is thin and lightweight, is cost-effective in production, and is good for mounting and storage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital television (TV) antenna and, more particularly, to a thin flat panel style digital TV antenna being thin, lightweight and compact and serving to receive digital TV signals over the air.
2. Description of the Related Art
Televisions have almost become an essential electric appliance in every household. For analog televisions back in the early days, the degree of clarity with which a televised image is displayed highly depends on the intensity of television signals carried by frequency modulation (FM) or amplitude modulation (AM) radio waves. VHF (Very High Frequency) band and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band are major frequency bands compatible with typical analog TVs.
Due to the use of cathode ray tube (CRT), it is hard for traditional analog TVs to take picture quality into account without compromising the design concerns of being compact and lightweight. To break through the bottleneck, digital TVs based on the technologies of liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display (PD), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and the like gradually replace the conventional analog TVs. Most digital TVs are compatible with digital TV signals over the UHF band. As each TV antenna is designed according to the frequency band of the received TV signals thereof, technically, antennae of analog TVs can be used to receive UHF TV signals. However, attenuated TV signals inevitably lead to blurred TV images. TV signals are easily attenuated due to blockage of buildings and atmospheric rain and clouds, and are thus prone to electromagnetic interference. Therefore, regular analog TVs are normally equipped with large-size outdoor antennae to mitigate the signal attenuation. With reference to FIG. 6, a conventional analog TV antenna has two extendable streamline antennae 61 and two dish antennae 62 for receiving VHF and UHF TV signals. However, the two streamline antennae 61 and the two dish antennae 62 require larger space for mounting and storage and are operationally inflexible. Additionally, the conventional analog TV antenna is structurally complicated and has many parts, rendering inconvenience to users in mounting, cleaning and maintaining the antenna and cost-ineffectiveness in production. Accordingly, improvement should be made for the conventional analog TV antenna to be compatible for use with digital TVs.

Thin flat panel style digital television antenna


A method for automatic train control in a digitally controlled model railroad system includes detecting a polarity change of a track voltage applied to the track by means of a digitally controlled motor vehicle running on the track. The track voltage being a modulated control voltage which is normally symmetric and asymmetric in galvanically isolated track sections. After each detection of a change of polarity, the voltage level of the control voltage applied to the track is sampled independently for each rail of the track by means of the digitally controlled motor vehicle running on the track. The voltage values sampled for each rail of the track are compared to each other and evaluated with regard to any asymmetry occurring in the amplitude of the track voltage with reference to each rail of the track. Depending on the result of the evaluation, the travel operation of the motor vehicle is influenced that is otherwise controlled by the digital control system.

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automatic train control in a digitally controlled model railroad system. In contrast to conventionally controlled or analog operated model railroads, in digitally controlled systems each locomotive or motor vehicle has its own individual address. In digitally controlled systems, too, it is possible for a locomotive to stop automatically in front of a railway signal that is showing "Stop". For this purpose, the operating voltage is turned off in a stop section that is galvanically isolated from the rest of the track. However, the locomotive can then no longer be controlled by the digital control system, because it can no longer receive its control information.
To solve this problem, special strings of digits were inserted into the digital signal for such a stop section, for example, strings of digits that can be detected and analyzed by each locomotive that is equipped with digital receivers. However, necessary provisions on the track site to enable insertion of such particular digits ahead of each signal are quite extensive and therefore result in high costs.
Another and significantly simpler method is to make the digital signal asymmetric for such a stop section and to evaluate this asymmetry information in the locomotive decoder. Normally, the digital signal in almost all digital systems consists of an AC voltage having negative and positive components of equal amplitude, i.e. one that is symmetric. The advantage of an apparatus that utilizes this method of asymmetry in the digital information consists of its simplicity. On the track site, all that is needed are a few rectifier diodes, and on the decoder site trivial comparator circuits.
Whereas the asymmetric system described above has a very simple construction, it exhibits the following disadvantages. The large-scale industrial trains recognize, in addition to a stop at a signal, two additional conditions that are not implemented in the conventional asymmetric system described above. The first of these conditions is that the stop signal does not apply to a train that is approaching the railway signal from its back side. The second is that in addition to the "stop" information, there is also a "restricted speed" information. Nor can this method be used if the digital system has the capability of simultaneously operating a conventional (analog) locomotive. That is because the track voltage is generally transmitted to the comparator of a locomotive detector via an RC circuit. Because of the different pulse lengths that are inherent to conventional or analog operation (see DE 30 25 035), the locomotive decoder would already detect an asymmetry for this reason.

Method and apparatus for automatic train control in a digitally controlled model railroad system


A precision deployable boom assembly 10 for terrestrial and celestial applications comprises an extendable and retractable boom 12 having a fixed end 14, a movable distal end 20 and three or more cables 30 attached to the distal end to form a tripod configuration of the deployed boom. The boom is spring biased to urge extension of the boom and to produce a tensile pre-load in the cables. The cables are wound and unwound by cable drums 28 selectively driven by precise motors such as stepping motors 33. The cables are preferably formed of graphite which provides high stiffness, light weight and a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. The position of the distal end is highly stable at all deployed lengths of the boom and is also precisely repeatable.

The invention is directed to the field of deployable platforms and, more particularly, to a precision deployable boom assembly for celestial and terrestrial applications.
Deployable platforms are known for use on spacecrafts such as satellites. These platforms are utilized to support devices such as antennas, cameras, telescopes and various other scientific instruments.
Most deployable platforms are static and capable of only one-time deployment. These platforms are typically unfolded to the deployed position and cannot be retracted once deployed. Some platforms can be retracted. Neither the non-retractable nor the retractable platforms are stable at intermediate positions.
Known platforms are inadequate for applications that require a variable length platform. For example, to measure distant planets and solar systems, instruments can be mounted to a platform and the spacecraft rotated to map a full 360.degree. C. revolution. For different aperture sizes, the distance between the spacecraft and the instruments needs to be varied. This variable positioning is not possible using known static platforms, which provide only a fixed platform length. Known platforms are also incapable of repeatedly positioning the boom at selected intermediate positions between retracted (stowed) and fully deployed with a high degree of accuracy and stability.
It is also necessary in some applications that the platform be extremely dimensionally and positionally stable. High stability is needed for making precise measurements or performing precise mapping using an instrument mounted to the platform. The stability of the platform can be significantly affected by temperature changes. In space, large temperature changes can occur, for example, during travel of satellites between the dark side and the sun side of their orbits. If the platform length is sensitive to temperature changes caused by thermal expansion or contraction, then the dimensional changes in the platform caused by the temperature change can alter the position of the instrument and prevent the instrument from providing precise measurement. Consequently, the mission is degraded at great expense.
The dimensional and positional stability of the platform can also be affected by "deadband" in the platform. Deadband is characterized as a lack of tightness in the platform due to excessive play between the platform members. Deadband causes the platform position to vary, significantly if there is a high amount of deadband in the platform. Consequently, the exact location of instruments mounted on platforms having deadband is indeterminate. In addition, deadband can interfere with the spacecraft control system and prevent the control system from correctly controlling motion of the spacecraft. The problem of spacecraft control is exacerbated in heavy booms having deadband.
Hysteresis in the platform can also affect positional stability. Hysteresis can be caused by the release of frictional loads in the platform, and by the elasticity of the platform members. A high stiffness is desired in the platform to reduce hysteresis and stabilize the platform length.
Another important characteristic of platforms is the natural structural frequency. The structural frequency can be represented by the frequency of lateral movement of the boom. If the structural frequency of the platform is too low, it can couple in with sensors that determine the attitude of the spacecraft and provide signals to thrusters or reaction wheels that control motion of the spacecraft. These sensors have a feedback loop frequency. If the structural frequency of the platform is too close to the feedback loop frequency, then it is not possible to determine whether the motion of the spacecraft is being controlled, or whether the thrusters or reaction wheels are actually just responding to vibrations of the platform and wasting precious fuel. Accordingly, it is desirable that the structural frequency of the platform differ by a safety margin from the feedback loop frequency of the sensors.
It is also important that a stiff platform be achieved without making the platform overly heavy. For spacecraft applications, the weight of the platform must be controlled for launch purposes and to minimize fuel consumption.
Thus, there is a need for a deployable boom assembly that (i) can be adjustably, repeatedly positioned at intermediate locations between retracted and fully deployed; (ii) is dimensionally stable despite changes in temperature; (iii) is positionally stable at all deployed positions; (iv) has a structural frequency that does not couple in with that of sensors that control the motion of spacecrafts; and (v) has a simple construction and is lightweight.


Disclosed herein are a common flow field type fuel cell separator, a fuel cell separator assembly, and a fuel cell stack, including a flow field connected to a manifold in which an inlet and an outlet for each of hydrogen, air, and cooling water are formed, and configured such that flows of the hydrogen, the air, and the cooling water are free from interfering with each other.

Generally, a fuel cell stack is mounted in a fuel cell vehicle, and the fuel cell stack generates power for the vehicle by generating electricity and water due to electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.
To this end, the fuel cell stack has, as a main component, a unit cell composed of a membrane-electrode assembly, a gas diffusion layer, and a separator.
Specifically, the membrane-electrode assembly is located at the very center of the fuel cell stack and has a catalyst layer coated on both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane. The gas diffusion layer is located outside the membrane-electrode assembly. The separator is stacked on an outer portion of the gas diffusion layer and enables formation of a double flow field of a gas channel for air electrode/hydrogen electrode and a water channel for cooling water so as to provide an air electrode/hydrogen electrode separator and a cooling water separator, thereby supplying fuel and discharging water generated by the reaction. The gasket is joined to the separator so as to be positioned between the separator and the gas diffusion layer. The unit cell is comprised of one membrane-electrode assembly, two gas diffusion layers, and two separators, and several tens to hundreds of unit cells are stacked so that the fuel cell stack can provide an output of a desired scale.
Particularly, the gasket enables maintaining of airtightness with respect to the separator by causing several tens to hundreds of unit cells to be depressed while being stacked, thereby preventing leakage of hydrogen, air and cooling water that flow through the flow field of the separator.
The separator is comprised of a separator for air electrode/hydrogen electrode and a separator for supplying cooling water, by which a double flow field of a gas channel for the air electrode/hydrogen electrode and a water channel for cooling water is formed to provide fuel and discharge water generated by the reaction.

Common flow field type fuel cell separator, fuel cell separator assembly, and fuel cell stack


A nonwoven fabric with UV stability having a spunbonded fabric layer comprising a base resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene; combined with melt processable additives; wherein said melt processable additives are a mixture of (i) at least two hindered amine light stabilizers; (ii) a processing aid selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl amines and phosphites; and (iii) a carrier resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene. Other melt processable additives include pigments which are added to provide the desired color in the resulting fabric layer.

The invention relates to spunbonded nonwoven fabrics possessing light stability, particularly ultraviolet, suitable for substrates used to manufacture outdoor covers. In particular, the invention relates to nonwoven fabrics made using a combination of at least two hindered amine light stabilizers, hydroxyl amine and phosphite processing aids; and a carrier resin of polypropylene, polyethylene or a mixture of both. The resulting spunbonded fabric layer has enhanced trapezoidal tear in both the MD and CD directions.
Nonwoven fabrics possessing light stability (particularly ultraviolet) are desirable for use as substrates to manufacture outdoor covers. Outdoor covers include marine, automobile, bike and recreational vehicle covers. Such covers include protecting the vehicle from wear and tear caused by wind, rain and sunlight. Nonwovens and nonwoven composites for such covers are available in the market. However, it was not possible hitherto to incorporate UV stability and still obtain high fabric strength, particularly trapezoidal tear strengths needed for downstream ultrasonic converting. To overcome these problems the invention provides a nowoven product and process for producing such a fabric, having enhanced trapezoidal tear, suitable for further ultrasonic lamination.
In general hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) are known in the art. For example, published European patent application EP 0792911 A2 to Tennesen discloses a phosphate based flame retardant combined with alkoxyamine functional hindered amine light stabilizer (NOR-HALS) used to achieve flame retardant properties that are better than those with phosphates alone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,812 to Haley describes fibers and fabrics, as used clothing, upholstery and carpeting which contain about 0.01 to 3% (preferably 0.2 to 1.0%) by weight of the composition, of a light stabilizer. This patent discloses a polyolefin, a NOR HALS (alkoxy amine functional hindered amine light stabilizers) and a phosphorous flame retardant (col. 2 line 33-40; col. 4 line 62-64). Regular HALS (hindered amine light stabilizers) may be employed additionally or in place of NOR HALS.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,950 to Galbo discloses numerous N-OR1 alkoxy hindered amine light stabilizers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,443 to Hudson discloses a nonwoven web of polypropylene polymer containing an acetylated hindered amine light stabilizer and a hindered amine substituted siloxane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,770 to Cortolano; U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,378 to Behrens; U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,341 to Brown and U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,647 to Malherber all disclose formulations of particular hindered amine light stabilizers.
None of the known prior art discloses a spunbonded nonwoven fabric with UV stability having enhanced durablity. Further, the known art has not disclosed the synergistic effect of combining at least two hindered amine light stabilizers to produce a spunbonded nonwoven fabric having enhanced trapezoidal tear properties.
Thus it is a broad object of the invention to provide a spunbonded nonwoven fabric with UV light stability. Specifically, the fabric layer is made of a base (or virgin) resin polypropylene which is combined with melt processing additives. These additives are a mixture of (i) at least two hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS); (ii) processing aids which are either hydroxyl amines or phosphites or a combination of both; and (iii) a carrier resin of either polypropylene or polyethylene or a mixture of both. Pigments are also included in the formulations to impart desired color properties to the resulting fabrics. The additives are incorporated into a base polyolefinic resin to form a homogeneous blend which is then spunbonded to form the fabric layer.
Another object of the invention is to provide a spunbonded fabric structure possessing at least two layers of spunbond (SB) webs to which suitable melt processable additives have been incorporated to the virgin resin before melt spinning.
A specific object of the invention is to provide spunbond cover substrates having spunbond-spunbond (SS), spunbond-spunbond-spunbond (SSS) and spunbond-spunbond-spunbond-spunbond (SS-SS) composite structures all having enhanced trapezoidal tear strength.
Another more specific object of the invention is to provide spunbond structures having a useful service life from six to sixty months, depending on the desired end use.
Another specific object of the invention is to provide a spunbond fabric that possesses superior initial physical properties as measured by grab/strip tensile tests and trapezoidal tear tests.
A further object of the invention is to provide a spunbond fabric that does not suffer a loss of more than 50% of its initial MD, CD tensiles and initial MD, CD trapezoidal tear values at the end of its useful service life.
A further specific object of the invention is to provide a spunbond fabric wherein the color shift is maintained within tolerances over the entire service life.
The present invention provides a spunbond fabric possessing UV light stability for use as a substrate to manufacture outdoor covers.
The spunbonded fabric comprises a base resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene combined with melt processable additives. The melt processable additives are a mixture of (i) at least two hindered amine light stabilizers; (ii) a processing aid selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl amines and phosphites; and (iii) a carrier resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene. Pigments are also included in the formulations to impart desired color properties to the resulting fabrics.
The base resin and melt processable additives are combined to form a homogeneous blend which is then spunbonded to form a nonwoven fabric layer.
The nonwoven fabric of the invention may comprise multiple fabric layers. Fabric structures encompassed by the invention include spunbond (SB), spunbond-spunbond (SS), spunbond-spunbond-spunbond (SSS), spunbond-spunbond-spunbond-spunbond (SS-SS) nonwoven fabrics.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent when the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention are considered with reference to the drawings, which should be construed in an illustrative and not limiting sense as follows:

UV stabilized spunbond fabrics with enhanced trapezoidal tear


The present invention provides a method of forming a transparent conductive film at a low temperature that is suitable for use with a synthetic resin substrate. According to the production method of a substrate with an electrode of the present invention, an oxide conductive film composed of an amorphous material or mainly composed of an amorphous material is formed on a substrate at a temperature equal to or less than the crystallization temperature of the film, and subsequently, the formed oxide conductive film is crystallized by heating. The oxide conductive film is processed into the shape of an electrode either before or after crystallization, according to necessity.

In display devices such as liquid crystal display (LCD), electrochromic display (ECD), plasma display (PDP), and electroluminescent display (ELD) devices and in metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) solar cells, transparent electrodes are generally formed on the surface of a substrate made of glass or the like. A transparent film with low resistance can be obtained using a metal such as silver, but in order to ensure sufficient light transmissivity, it is necessary to form an extremely thin film having a thickness of approximately 10 nm. Difficulties, however, arise in the handling of such a thin film, as such a film can be easily damaged in subsequent steps such as in a step of patterning the electrodes. For these reasons, an oxide conductive material such as zinc oxide, indium oxide, or tin doped indium oxide (ITO), which although has a high resistivity in comparison to metal, has a high hardness and is not particularly susceptible to deterioration in function caused by oxide degradation, is used for the transparent electrodes formed on a substrate. In particular, films made of ITO are widely used because of the low resistivity thereof. In ITO, Sn4+, which substitutes for In3+ in oxide indium In2O3, generates a carrier electron. As is the case with indium oxide, the crystal structure is a cubic bixbyite structure. For the formation of an ITO film, sputtering, which enables the formation of a low resistance film on a substrate with a large area at a relatively low temperature, is generally employed. The characteristics of a film formed by sputtering vary according to the substrate temperature during formation. A film formed at a high temperature of approximately 200° C. or higher is a so-called polycrystalline film made up of an aggregate of microcrystal. In such a film formed at a high temperature, microcrystals in each of certain regions orient in substantially the same direction, thereby forming domains. A temperature of 250° C. has been determined to be the substrate temperature at which a film having both the highest possible transparency and the lowest possible resistance can be obtained. By contrast, a film formed at a low temperature is amorphous or has a structure mainly in an amorphous phase with crystal fine grains being dispersed therein. While an amorphous film has excellent etchability for the processing of electrodes, fundamental characteristics such as conductivity and transparency are inferior to those of a polycrystalline film. Chemical resistance and corrosion resistance are also inferior. In a film that is a mixture of the amorphous phase and the crystal phase, linearity of film patterning is poor because the etching speed for each phase differs greatly. In, for example, cases in which crystal grains are dispersed in an amorphous matrix, it is only the crystal phase that is not etched, remaining as residue and becoming a cause of defects. In addition, because most of the film is the amorphous phase, the film is inferior in terms of a variety of properties such as conductivity, transmissivity, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, and durability.
For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-48516, it is proposed that, for the transparent electrodes, an ITO film or an indium oxide film, each being oriented in a specified direction and having excellent patternability for etching, be employed. In the same publication, an amorphous film is proposed as an electrode material having excellent patternability for etching. While an amorphous film has excellent etchability, it is inferior in terms of fundamental characteristics such as conductivity and transparency. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-94230, a randomly-oriented polycrystalline ITO film formed by sputtering at a substrate temperature of 180-350° C. is proposed as a transparent conductive film having excellent etchability.
As in the above examples, polycrystalline films for electrodes have conventionally been formed by sputtering with the substrate temperature fixed at a high temperature of 200° C. or higher. Thus, it was necessary to employ a substrate made of a material capable of withstanding a high temperature of 200° C. or higher during formation of a film, such as a substrate made of glass.
In recent years, many attempts have been made to use a substrate made of a synthetic resin rather than a substrate made of glass, as a synthetic resin substrate has the advantages of being light weight and difficult to break. However, synthetic resin substrates can withstand at most a temperature of 180° C. Therefore, it is not possible to form, on a surface of the substrate, a transparent conductive film made of an oxide such as ITO or zinc oxide at high temperatures of 200° C. or higher. Namely, electrodes formed on a synthetic resin substrate had to be either a film in which the amorphous phase and the crystal phase are mixed or a film in the amorphous phase. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-61836, a method is proposed wherein, by mixing H2O in a sputtering gas, an ITO thin film having excellent etchability and a low density of crystal grains dispersed in an amorphous matrix is formed on a synthetic resin substrate. This film, however, also is inferior to a polycrystalline film formed at a high temperature in terms of conductivity and transparency.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-346575, a method is proposed wherein resistance is improved by using vapor deposition to form an ITO film on a synthetic resin substrate at a temperature below the temperature at which the substrate undergoes a change in shape and calcining the film in air to adjust the degree of oxidization. However, with this method also, fundamental characteristics such as resistivity and transmissivity are insufficient in the resulting film.
The temperature of heating is limited, not only in cases where substrates made of synthetic resin are used, but also in cases where a color filter layer and a light-emitting layer made of an organic material are provided on a same substrate. For example, a transparent conductive film for use as the electrodes of a super twisted nematic (STN) mode color LCD is formed on a color filter made of organic material. The substrate temperature during the forming of this transparent conductive film is limited to approximately 200° C. or less due to the presence of the color filter material.
Thus, there has been a need for a method of forming, at a low temperature, a conductive film that has excellent resistivity, transmissivity, etchability, and the like.
In addition, because of the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient of a substrate and a conductive thin film formed on the surface of the substrate, the substrate is susceptible to bend. When bend arises in a substrate, precision in the processing of the formed conductive thin film into electrodes is reduced. The higher the temperature during formation of the conductive thin film, the larger the bend becomes. In other words, when the film is formed at a low temperature, while bend in the substrate is minimal, a film with sufficient characteristics cannot be obtained. In amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells in which a transparent conductive film, an amorphous silicon layer, and an aluminum electrode layer are stacked on a substrate, in organic ELDs in which a pair of electrode layers and an organic light-emitting layer sandwiched therebetween are stacked on a substrate, and the like, precision in the processing of other layers stacked on the conductive thin films suffers. In any case, in order to obtain a high wiring density and a stable internal resistance, it is absolutely necessary that such a bend be reduced. In particular, in a-Si solar cells, which are set up outside, good reliability and durability are required, making bend a serious problem.
Synthetic resin substrates are more susceptible to bend than are glass substrates. For this reason, the formation of conductive thin films on synthetic resin substrates has conventionally been carried out in the relatively low range of from room temperature to 150° C. In order to meet the demand for a reduction in the size, a reduction in the weight, and an improvement in light transmissivity of display panels, it is necessary that the thickness of the substrates be reduced. At the same time, in order to reduce the internal resistance of a circuit, it is necessary that the thickness of conductive films for electrodes and the like be increased. Thus, as reduction in the size and improvement in the performance of devices progress, the more serious a problem bend in substrates and fractures and the like that arise along with bend become.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-222944, a method of forming a low stress and low resistance ITO film is proposed with the aim of preventing fractures in the thin film. In this method, under the condition that the substrate temperature be approximately 200° C., a polycrystalline film made up of an aggregate of polygonal column-shaped crystal grains is formed by ion plating with arc discharge plasma. Although this method is effective for preventing fractures in the thin film, it is not effective for suppressing the bend in a substrate that arises with heating at a high temperature. It is also difficult to use this method for forming a film at a low temperature on a substrate made of synthetic resin. Thus, there has been a need for a method of forming, at a low temperature, a conductive thin film having excellent resistivity, transmissivity, etchability, and the like, that does not also bring about a change in the shape of the substrate.

Substrate with an electrode and method of producing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A structure and method of fabricating a dual damascene interconnect structure, the structure including a dual damascene wire in a dielectric layer, the dual damascene wires extending a distance into the dielectric layer less than the thickness of the dielectric layer and dual damascene via bars integral with and extending from bottom surfaces of the dual damascene wires to a bottom surface of the dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of integrated circuits; more specifically, it relates to a dual damascene wiring structure and method of fabricating the dual damascene wiring structure.
2. Background of the Invention
Dual damascene wiring, is used as a method of interconnecting semiconductor and other structures into integrated circuits because of the increased density over older interconnection methods. The industry is constantly looking for new dual damascene wiring structures that improve dual damascene wire fabrication and dual damascene wiring efficiency.

International Business Machines Corporation


A motor system and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes an energy storage device, a piston assembly including a magnet, at least two end assemblies in operable communication with the piston assembly, and includes first and second end assemblies, each having an electromagnet. The motor system further includes a controller that controls a supply of electrical power to first and second electromagnets of the first and second end assemblies, such that a first polarity of the first electromagnet is opposite a second polarity of the second electromagnet, and the first and second polarities are intermittingly altered by the supply of electrical power, so the magnet of the piston assembly is attracted and repelled from the first and second end assemblies.

Generally, there have been attempts to build a motor, wherein a reciprocating piston is moved by various types of magnets placed at various locations on and around the piston. Typically, these attempts resulted in a motor not having enough torque and excess energy output to replace an internal combustion. One exemplary motor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,446,440, which uses permanent magnets arranged in rows on the piston and on sliding field plate(s) located at one or both ends of a cylinder. The motor operates by sliding the field plate(s) from a position whereby its magnets attract the magnets located on the piston, to a position whereby its magnets repel the magnets on the piston.
Another exemplary device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,579, which teaches a reciprocating piston electric motor that uses coils wrapped around each end of a cylinder to create electromagnets. The motor uses a piston made of a permanent magnet with one end being positive and the other end being negative, wherein electricity is applied to the coils in alternating fashion as to reverse the magnetic fields produced which causes the piston to move. Generally, a reciprocating piston motor requires a power source that creates enough force that generates sufficient torque for a given application. Automobiles and electrical generators require an adequate amount of torque, and therefore, most motors for these applications typically use the explosive power of fossil fuels. Generally, an internal combustion engine uses a relatively small amount of electricity to cause the fossil fuel to explode, thereby creating mechanical energy. Essentially, the fossil fuel is used to greatly magnify the energy potential of the electricity applied, and because the energy in the fossil fuel is exhausted in the process, the operational cost for fuel are perpetual, and the process may have adverse affects on the environment.

Reciprocating dual-action piston magnetic force motor and method


A sensing element of an infrared detector including a first absorber configured to form a first set of minority carriers upon receipt of an infrared flux, a collector, a first barrier disposed between the first absorber and the collector, a second absorber configured to form a second set of minority carriers upon receipt of the infrared flux, and a second barrier disposed between the second absorber and the collector. In response to a voltage being applied to the collector, the first and second set of minority carriers are collected at the collector.

Some infrared detectors include an absorber, a barrier, and a collector. The infrared detector receives an infrared flux that includes photons that are absorbed by the absorber. When a photon is absorbed, the energy of the photon is transferred to an electron, causing the electron to rise from the valence band to the conduction band, leaving a hole in the valence band, thereby creating an electron-hole pair. In one example, depending on the absorber material, either the hole or the electron becomes the minority carrier that is collected by the collector while the majority carrier is blocked from reaching the collector by the barrier.
Quantum efficiency (QE) of an infrared detector is affected by the thickness of the absorber. The thicker the absorber the more likely that a photon will be absorbed contributing to an improved QE. However, a thicker absorber may exceed a diffusion length of the minority carrier for the absorber. The diffusion length is typically defined as the average distance a carrier may travel before the carrier is recombined. For example, if a minority carrier is an electron, then the diffusion length is the average distance the electron will travel before it is recombined with a hole. The probability P that a minority carrier travels a specified distance x is equal to exp(−x/L) where L is the diffusion length as shown in a graph 10 in FIG. 1, where a curve 12 represents a diffusion length of 2 microns, a curve 14 represents a diffusion length of 4 microns, a curve 16 represents a diffusion length of 6 microns, and a curve 18 represents a diffusion length of 8 microns. Therefore, if an absorber is too thick and exceeds the diffusion length, then it is more likely that the minority carriers will recombine before reaching the collector and thereby reducing QE.

Infrared detecting with multiple absorbers in a sensing element


A nestable shopping cart having a fixed child seat and a tubular frame construction basket providing strong and rigid construction with a reduced number of parts.

This invention relates generally to shopping carts and is particularly concerned with improved shopping cart strength and durability and ease of manufacture.
Traditional shopping carts have been made of bent wire stock for the basket side walls. If a child seat is provided it is attached at its lower end to the rear wall, and is pivoted away from the rear wall to use the seat. On nesting, the child seat is collapsed and the seat and rear wall are lifted by the front end of a cart nesting in from the rear. At the same time, the lower tray is also pivoted and is lifted by the lower end of the nesting cart. The various movable parts of such carts, to permit nesting, will tend to rattle as the cart travels, and also make nesting more difficult. Separating nested carts can also be a problem when there is deformation of the basket due to abuse or heavy loads. When the basket is deformed, the carts can no longer be nested.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,890,057 of Davis describes a conventional type of collapsing baby seat on a cart. Shopping carts are known which have different nesting arrangements, but these are subject to some other disadvantages. In my U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,181, a shopping cart with stepped, completely separate upper and lower baskets is described, in which the lower basket is offset forwardly from the upper basket, so that the lower basket of a rear cart can be nested under the upper basket of a forward cart for storage. The upper basket may include a child seat. However, the baskets are of reduced size and terminate short of the forward end of the cart. The base or lower tray is fixed and is stepped to permit nesting. In my U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,998, a shopping cart is described which has a child seat at the front end of the cart, and a pivoted rear wall for nesting. The lower tray or base is inclined downwardly from the rear to the front end of the cart to permit nesting without having to lift the lower tray, reducing moving parts. In my U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,711 a fixed baby seat is provided but the structural strength of the cart is compromised because there is no provision for a high strength frame for the basket top or bottom. Also in that patent the parts count is higher than in a conventional cart because of the use of a separate cantilever brace supporting the basket.


A device for selectively changing phase relationship between first and second rotating shafts in an internal combustion engine where the first shaft is secured for rotation with a worm carrier assembly and the second shaft is secured for rotation with a worm gear includes first and second worms disposed for rotation within the worm carrier assembly and having torsional preloads with opposite hands of rotation and meshing with the worm gear. An actuator turns the first and second worms in a first direction to advance rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft and turns the first and second worms in a second direction to retard rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a mechanical or non-hydraulic variable camshaft timing device for an internal combustion engine.
2. Background Art
Variable camshaft timing (VCT) devices may be used to change the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft lobes that control actuation of the gas exchange valves. In general, control of the phase relationship facilitates better management of fuel economy, performance, and emissions by providing less valve overlap at idle and low engine speeds for good combustion stability, and more valve overlap at higher engine speeds for better power and performance. Pressurized engine lubricating oil is often used to hydraulically actuate VCT devices. However, temperature-related viscosity changes often present challenges for consistent performance of hydraulically actuated VCT systems. In addition, hydraulically actuated VCT systems may require higher oil pressure and a correspondingly larger, heavier oil pump with higher parasitic losses than otherwise required to provide adequate engine lubrication, resulting in lower overall engine efficiency and fuel economy.
A mechanically actuated phaser for adjusting the timing between a camshaft and crankshaft as disclosed in US 2003/0159670 uses solenoid-actuated rotation of a worm gear to vary the angular relationship between the camshaft drive sprocket and a camshaft drive gear. This strategy recognizes that a worm gear with a high mechanical advantage will rotate when torque is applied to the worm, but a constant torque applied to the worm gear will not produce rotation of the worm so that the device can maintain a selected position. However, US 2003/0159670 does not recognize that the dynamic loading associated with valve actuation creates a fluctuating load applied to the worm gear that can cause rotation of the worm similar to the manner in which an under-torqued bolt can vibrate loose. As such, the lash necessary for operation of the worm in this arrangement makes it difficult to hold a constant position when subjected to the dynamic loading of the camshaft during operation of the intake and/or exhaust valves and may require constant adjustment by the actuating solenoid. In addition, packaging constraints with an internal worm gear meshing with internal ring gear teeth require small components that may encounter reliability/durability issues.

Mechanical variable camshaft timing device


The main object is to provide a manufacturing method of organic semiconductor, an organic semiconductor device structure manufactured by the manufacturing method and an organic semiconductor device, those having uniform and high carrier transport property over a relatively large area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of an organic semiconductor structure, wherein the organic semiconductor structure comprising an organic semiconductor layer formed with organic semiconductor material having liquid crystallinity, an organic semiconductor structure manufactured by the manufacturing method of and an organic semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a typical example of an organic semiconductor device, an organic field-effect transistor (also called organic FET) using an organic semiconductor as an active layer (hereinafter, referred to as an organic semiconductor layer) can be mentioned. In order to realize a thin film-large area device, the organic FET is required to have uniform charge carrier transport property and high carrier mobility over a sufficient large area.
In this organic FET, the organic semiconductor layer is formed, by vacuum deposition process, from molecular crystals represented by pentacene. It is reported that in a method of forming an organic semiconductor layer by vacuum deposition process, an organic semiconductor layer having high charge carrier mobility, which is greater than 1 cm2/V·s, can be obtained by optimizing film-manufacturing conditions. (see Y. -Y. Lin, D. J. Gundlach, S. Nelson, and T. N. Jackson, "Stacked Pentacene Layer Organic Thin-Film Transistors with Improved Characteristics", IEEE Electron Device Lett, 18,606 (1997)).
However, generally in the organic semiconductor layers formed by the above-mentioned vacuum deposition process, a large number of grain boundaries easily occur in polycrystal state of aggregated fine crystals, and further, defects easily occur so that such grain boundaries and defects inhibit transportation of charge. Accordingly, when an organic semiconductor layer is formed by vacuum deposition process, it is actually very difficult to form an organic semiconductor layer serving as an element of an organic semiconductor device continuously with uniform performance over a sufficiently large area.
On the other hand, a discotic liquid crystal is known as a material showing high charge carrier mobility (see D. Adam, F. Closss, T. Frey, D. Funhoff, D. Haarer, H. Ringsdorf, P. Schunaher, and K. Siemensmyer, Phys. Rev. Lett., 70,457 (1993)). In this discotic liquid crystal, however, transportation of charge is performed based on 1-dimensional charge transport mechanism along column-shaped molecular alignment. Thus, there is a problem that it is difficult to apply industrially because strict control of molecular alignment is required. Up to now, there is no report on a successful example of a thin-film transistor using the discotic liquid crystal as a material of an organic semiconductor layer.
It has been reported that a rod-shaped liquid crystal material such as a phenyl benzothiazole derivative also shows high charge carrier mobility in a liquid crystal state (see D. Adam, F. Closss, T. Frey, D. Funhoff, D. Haarer, H. Ringsdorf, P. Schunaher, and K. Siemensmyer, Phys. Rev. Lett., 70,457 (1993)). However, there is still no report on a successful example of a thin-film transistor using the rod-shaped liquid crystal material in an organic semiconductor layer. The rod-shaped liquid crystal material occurs in several liquid crystal states, and as the structural regularity of the liquid crystal material is increased, the mobility of charge tends to be increased. However, when this liquid crystal material is transferred into a crystal state of higher structural regularity, the mobility of charge is reversely decreased or not observed, thus naturally failing to exhibit the performance of a thin-film transistor.
When a polymer material in a molecular dispersion system is used as an organic semiconductor material, an organic semiconductor layer, which having uniform charge transport property over a large area, can be formed by coating this organic semiconductor material. However, the charge carrier mobility of the resulting organic semiconductor layer is as low as 10−5 to 10−6 cm2/V·s, and is problematic because of its dependency on temperature and electric field.

Organic semiconductor structure, manufacturing method of the same, and organic semiconductor device

Abstract: To achieve the object, the present invention provides a manufacturing method of an organic semiconductor structure, wherein the organic semiconductor structure comprises, on a base material, an organic semiconductor layer formed from a liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material, and

Abstract: comprising processes of: forming an oil repellent region and a lipophilic region, which is surrounded by the oil repellent region, on the base material;

Abstract: coating an organic semiconductor layer forming solution, comprising the liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material and a solvent, on the lipophilic region; and

Abstract: crystallizing the liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material by evaporating the solvent in the organic semiconductor layer forming solution coated on the lipophilic region.


Methods and systems for servicing content for delivery to a client device are described. An item of content is identified during a session with the client device. A type of service to be performed on the item of content is identified. A provider is selected from a plurality of providers capable of performing the service. The session is transferred to the selected provider, which performs the service on the item of content.

Typically, people learn of content sites (e.g., a video-based movie web page) based on their web browsing experiences using their desktop or laptop machines, since these devices are well suited to the input (e.g., Uniform Resource Locators or search queries) and output (e.g., reliable, high-bandwidth connections) requirements associated with web browsing. Once such sites are located, web users may subsequently try to connect to them using mobile devices such as video-enabled personal digital assistants (PDAs) or cell phones.
To accommodate the diversity in user (client) devices, content providers have to be able to support a wide range of different bit rates (according to the bandwidth of the connection), video frame rates (according to the processing power available at the client device, which itself varies dynamically according to power management strategies employed by the client device), video frame sizes (according to the display size available at the client device), or the like.
One way to address these problems is to endow the network with the ability to transcode media data as it is streamed, so that it arrives at a client device in a format that is tailored to the client device. In other words, processing is performed by the network on an input media content stream, so that an output content stream is produced with a different bit rate, video frame rate, video frame size, or other parameters, that makes the output content stream more amenable to consumption on the client device. This transcoding operation may be thought of as a service provided by the network. More generally, one might imagine that other types of media processing and analysis might also be performed within the network, so that modified content, or data derived from content available through the network, can be delivered to client devices. The ability to provide this sort of functionality in a network would enable the construction of a wide variety of useful services based on media content input, and these services could be provided for consumption by end users with access to the network.
Thus, a method and/or system that can deliver content, as well as content that results from the processing or analysis of other content, to a large number of clients without network congestion and the resulting degradation in the quality of the delivered content, would be valuable. A method and/or system that can accomplish this for diverse clients would also be of value.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods in which a provider is selected to service content requested by a client device

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A system includes a patient support apparatus that has one or more therapies. The therapies are optionally available depending on the acuity of the patient. A request for enablement of a therapy is transferred to a service provider for approval and, when approved, the therapy is enabled by the service provider. The patient support apparatus may be in communication with a server that is in communication with multiple patient support apparatuses so that the server is operable to selectively enable therapies on various patient support apparatuses.

The present disclosure relates to a patient support apparatus, and particularly, to a patient support apparatus and a control system configured to control various functions of the patient support apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a control system configured to control interaction between caregivers, patients, and service providers regarding the use and implementation of features included in the patient support apparatus.
It is known to provide patient support apparatuses that are configured to provide various features and therapies which caregivers and patients may desire to use. The cost of a patient support apparatus having many features and therapies available may be significant to the caregiver or patient. As a result, caregivers and patients may rent such patient support apparatuses for the limited times such features and therapies are needed. As a result, scheduling, shipping, and service of the patient support apparatus must be managed and coordinated.
It is also known to adjust features and therapies of the patient support apparatuses in the event maintenance or patient care necessitates such changes. When such an adjustment is needed, service providers often send a technician to the patient support apparatus to make adjustments. In the event of a maintenance event, the technician may enable alternative therapies or features until the desired feature or therapy is repaired. In the event of patient care calls for a change, the technician may enable the desired feature or therapy or provide an alternate therapy where patient care may be maximized as a result.
It is also known that certain therapies and features may not be covered by a patient's insurance provider. As a result, a caregiver may enable a feature or therapy which is not reimbursable by the insurance. Such cost may not be readily chargeable back to the patient and costs to the caregiver and patient are not optimized.
It is also know that billing of patients and caregivers for the time features and therapies are actually in use is inaccurate due to the limited availability of information. Caregivers and patients may be billed from the time the patient support apparatus is delivered from the service provider to the time the patient support apparatus is returned to the service provided. Caregivers may also be billed from the time a technician enables a feature or therapy to the time patient support apparatus is reconfigured for another patient. As a result, billing is inaccurate and inefficient.

Control system for patient support apparatus


A storage system 84 provides facility for storing a support mat 62 on a crane 20, for transport with the crane to and from work sites, and for placement of the mat on a terrain 22 for receipt of a pad 40 extendable from an outrigger beam 26 of the crane, to support and stabilize the crane during heavy duty operation thereof. The storage system 84 includes a carrier 86 formed with a nest 88 for storing the mat 62, a support mount 154, mountable on, and for attaching the storage system to, the crane 20. A linking couple 171 attaches the carrier 86 to the support mount 154. A cable 184, or a drive chain 228, is attached to the mat 62, and is movable by operation of a hoist 182, or a powered cylinder 190, to move the mat 62 into and out of the nest 88.

This invention relates to a storage system for a support mat and, in particular, to a storage system for facilitating the storage of a support mat used, for example, to stabilize and support load-lifting apparatus.
Load-lifting apparatus, such as, for example, cranes, motorized work vehicles, excavating equipment, and the like (hereinafter referred to as "cranes"), have been used for many years to lift heavy loads. Typically, cranes can be used to lift and move heavy work equipment and supplies from one location to another at the work site, to move filler material, such as gravel, from a central supply to a surface area being treated, and to perform other similar load-lifting functions.
Generally, the cranes are driven to the work site under their own power, or are moved or towed to the work site by a separate vehicle. When performing heavy load-lifting operations at the work site, the cranes are located on terrain or ground, which may be rough, uneven or soft (all hereinafter referred to as "rough terrain"). Where the cranes are located on rough terrain, stabilization of the cranes is necessary before any heavy load-lifting efforts can be initiated, because of concerns of the crane tipping over.
In an effort to provide some measure of stabilization, a crane may be equipped with a plurality of beams, which function as outriggers. The beams are movably assembled with a body of the crane, and are extendable from the body but are retained therewith. When the crane is not being used in a load-lifting operation, the beams are retracted and stored within the body of the crane. In addition, a support pad is movably attached to an outboard end of each of the beams, and is also retained with the crane.
When the crane is to be used for a load-lifting operation, the crane is positioned at a desired location on the rough terrain. Thereafter, the stored outrigger beams are moved outward from the body of the crane to the extent that an inboard end of each of the beams remains supported within the body, and the outboard end of each of the beams is positioned at a prescribed crane-stabilizing location spaced from the crane and over the rough terrain.
Each of the support pads, which remain movably attached to the outboard end of the respective beam, is then moved into engagement with the rough terrain to provide stabilizing support of the crane during the load-lifting operation to preclude the crane from tipping one way or another, or perhaps tipping over.
Frequently, the size, weight and/or shape of the pads, which are at all times movably attached to the crane, are not sufficient to safely stabilize the crane on the rough terrain. In such instances, separate support mats, which are independent of the crane, and which are typically larger than the pads, are placed on the rough terrain at the locations where the pads would normally be placed. Thereafter, each of the pads is moved in a normal manner toward the previously placed mats, with each of pads coming to rest on the respective mat. This arrangement provides a safer and more stabilizing support for the crane compared to the support attained when only the pads are placed in direct contact with the rough terrain.
Because of the size, weight and shape of the support mats, the mats are usually transferred from a first work site, or a mat-storage location, to a second work site in a vehicle separate from the crane. Frequently, the mats and the cranes arrive at the second work site at different times, which results in unwanted and costly delays in setting up and stabilizing the cranes at the second work site.
In addition, when used, the mats must be precisely located on the terrain for engagement with the pads. The precise placement of the mats on the rough terrain requires special handling of the mats. In addition, the mats must be properly aligned for accurate placement of the pads on the respective mats. The placement and alignment of the mats involves considerable preparation time, thereby adding to the ultimate cost and time for the project associated with the planned load-lifting operation.
Even where it may be possible to store and transport the support mats on the crane when the crane is transferred from a first work site to a second work site, the mats would have to be secured in a stored location on the crane during the transfer of the crane. Upon arrival of the crane at the second work site, each of the mats would be detached from the stored location on the crane, and then completely removed from the crane, lifted, manipulated, aligned and placed in the prescribed location on the rough terrain at the second work site. Again, considerable and costly preparation time would be required.
Therefore, there is a need for a storage system for supporting the mats with the crane to facilitate transfer of the mats with the crane, from one work site to another, and to expeditiously and economically place the mats precisely on the rough terrain for eventual accurate placement of the respective pads thereon.