A method and circuit arrangement utilize a low latency variable transfer network between the register files of multiple processing cores in a multi-core processor chip to support fine grained parallelism of virtual threads across multiple hardware threads. The communication of a variable over the variable transfer network may be initiated by a move from a local register in a register file of a source processing core to a variable register that is allocated to a destination hardware thread in a destination processing core, so that the destination hardware thread can then move the variable from the variable register to a local register in the destination processing core.

As semiconductor technology continues to inch closer to practical limitations in terms of increases in clock speed, architects are increasingly focusing on parallelism in processor architectures to obtain performance improvements. At the integrated circuit device, or chip level, multiple processing cores are often disposed on the same chip, functioning in much the same manner as separate processor chips, or to some extent, as completely separate computers. In addition, even within cores, parallelism is employed through the use of multiple execution units that are specialized to handle certain types of operations. Pipelining is also employed in many instances so that certain operations that may take multiple clock cycles to perform are broken up into stages, enabling other operations to be started prior to completion of earlier operations. Multithreading is also employed to enable multiple instruction streams to be processed in parallel, enabling more overall work to performed in any given clock cycle.
The net result of applying the aforementioned techniques is an ability to provide multithreaded processing environment with a pool of hardware threads distributed among one or more processing cores in one or more processor chips and in one or more computers, and capable of processing a plurality of instruction streams in parallel. It is expected that as technology increases, processor architectures will be able to support hundreds or thousands of hardware threads, and when multiple processors are combined into high performance computing systems such as supercomputers and massively parallel computers, a potential exists to support millions of hardware threads.
However, effective parallel processing requires that the software applications that run in a multithreaded processing environment take suitable advantage of multithreading capabilities. Software developers are typically more comfortable with developing single threaded applications since they typically follow the sequences of steps needed to perform desired tasks. Support for multithreading is often not as intuitive, and often requires consideration for minimizing conflicts and dependencies to minimize the frequency that threads may spend waiting for other threads to complete work that they need before they can complete their own work. For example, if one thread needs to calculate an average of some set of values that are being calculated by other threads, that thread will not be able to perform its operation until all of the other threads calculate their respective values. Threads that perform completely independent tasks, on the other hand, typically do not suffer from dependency concerns, so much of the effort associated with developing for multithreaded applications is devoted to breaking tasks up into relatively independent threads so that inter-thread dependencies are minimized.
Given the difficulties associated with developing multithreaded applications, a significant need has existed in the art for techniques for simplifying the development of multithreaded applications. For example, significant efforts have been made to programmatically convert single threaded application code into multithreaded application code during compilation, e.g., using an optimizing compiler. With one methodology, for example, fine grained parallelism is employed to convert in-order code in an instruction stream into multiple, small out-of-order code segments, and instructions are inserted into the instruction streams to pass data between the code segments in the form of variables. One type of instruction is a "put" instruction, which sends a variable to another thread, and another type of instruction is a "get" instruction, which retrieves a variable from another thread. Through the use of these instructions, synchronization between code segments executing on multiple threads can be maintained by stalling a code segment that has issued a get statement for a particular variable until another code segment has issued a corresponding put instruction for that variable.
While the use of put and get instructions can effectively maintain synchronization between dependent code segments executing on different hardware threads, any time that a thread is stalled waiting for a variable from another thread represents lost productivity, so it is desirable to minimize the latency associated with communicating variables between threads.
Therefore, a significant need exists in the art for a manner of efficiently communicating data between multiple threads in a multithreaded processing environment to minimize latencies for inter-thread dependencies.

Low latency variable transfer network communicating variable written to source processing core variable register allocated to destination thread to destination processing core variable register allocated to source thread

International Business Machines Corporation


A locking folding knife includes a handle and a blade pivotally connected to the handle. The blade has a cutting edge and a first position in which at least a portion of the cutting edge is located within the handle and a second position in which a majority of the cutting edge is outside of the handle. A pocket is defined in a first surface of the handle. A through-cut is in the pocket, wherein the through-cut terminates in the pocket at an endpoint. A lock is integral with the handle and extends from the endpoint of the through-cut, wherein the lock engages with a portion of the blade in the second position.

Locking folding knives are well-known in the art and identify a class of folding knives having a blade pivotally connected to a handle and a lock that secures the blade in an open position. In a closed position, a cutting edge of the blade resides within the handle, and the handle protects the cutting edge from inadvertent contact that might damage the cutting edge or cause personal injury. To transition to an open position, the blade pivots with respect to the handle to expose the cutting edge, and the lock engages to hold the blade in the open position.
Many different lock designs exist to allow the lock to reliably and consistently function over the course of thousands of cycles and decades of use, and the different lock designs often involve a balancing of competing goals within limits imposed by aesthetics and materials. Several existing designs use a lock bar which is an integral part of the knife handle. Optimal reliability and longevity/service life of an integral lock bar is dependent upon the length of the lock bar and the interrelationship of the interface of the locking surface and the deflection axis of the lock bar. A longer lock bar requires less angle of deflection which tends to reduce the tendency for fatigue, but also complicates and limits the objective of optimum geometry as between the deflection axis and the lock surface axis while preserving desirable aesthetics.
The need exists for an improved locking folding knife that may overcome one or more disadvantages of existing integral lock bar designs. For example, an improved design may permit a lengthened lock bar and allow for optimum placement of the deflection axis in handles which present geometric challenges such as handles which fit the natural curve of the hand.


A system produces administrative reports for a digital radiology department. The system includes a plurality of digital radiographic systems, each of which has storage for storing digital data in html relating to the use and operation of the system. A computer is in communication with the plurality of digital radiographic systems. The computer has a web browser for collecting digital data relating to the operation and/or use of each digital radiographic system. The computer produces one or more administrative reports based on the collected data.

Conventional analog projection radiography involves projecting a beam of x-radiation through a body part of a patient and recording the projected radiographic image on unexposed film in contact with one or two screens contained in a cassette. The film is then removed from the cassette in a darkroom environment and processed using chemical processing. Cassettes can also be reloaded with unexposed radiographic film in the darkroom. The developed film is then placed on a light box for review and diagnosis by a trained health care professional, such as a radiologist. The typical analog radiography department include ID cameras for exposing patient identification and other information on exposed x-ray film, darkrooms and radiographic film processors, chemical supplies, a water source, processor QA (Quality Assurance) strips, film/screen contact tests, waste film bin, monthly repeat analysis, and dose management supported by a fixed speed system. A typical darkroom needs water, a drain for chemicals, 220V power, ventilation, a safelight, chemical supply, and a film supply.
As with consumer and professional photography, conventional analog film/screen radiography is being supplemented and/or replaced by digital radiographic systems, such as computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR).
The digital radiology department is configured to include the following: CR and DR systems for radiographic image processing, high resolution workstations for reviewing digital radiographic images, test tool phantoms for system analysis. The computer based digital department includes the ability to delete images, the ability to fix images, and allows the use of auto density correction. Patient ID is managed through RIS/HIS (Radiology Information Systems/Hospital Information Systems) interface. Software is available to manage many tasks. Thus, CR and DR will replace film, QA workstations will replace QA lightboxes, barcode scanners will replace ID cameras, PACS or printers will replace processors, and pixel will replace grains of silver. However. technologists will remain the same and patients and diseases will be as usual.
Managing image quality takes a different focus in a digital world in a film environment, any exposure variation is immediately evident managers and technologists in charge of quality control monitor exposure accuracy by analyzing the bin of rejected films and talking to technologists about how to resolve any problems the goal is to reduce repeat exams to eliminate multiple radiation doses for patients while simultaneously improving departmental efficiency. In the digital world, the ability to delete mistakes meant that this valuable tool for tracking and improving the image capture process was lost. It is desirable that there be a solution that allows review of repeated exams and review of exposure levels used from a department-wide perspective, rather than from each individual system. This would give quality managers a convenient snapshot of how individuals are doing. For example, if a student has been working to improve his lateral C-spine images, the manager or educator could view this technologist's repeat analysis results, regardless of which radiographic system was used to make the images.
There is a need in the digital radiology department for administrative analysis and reporting to measure, track and manage performance of people, processes, and devices. There is also a need to manage quality such as, over and under x-ray exposure, x-ray image repeats, and imaging system performance.

Administrative reports for digital radiology department


A novelty drinking straw which includes a planar insert for the display of amusement or advertising indicia thereon. The straw includes a drinking tube having linearly extending first and second ends, and a loop disposed therebetween. The loop passes through more than 360.degree. of arc for a distance to define a doubled portion of the loop including an inner and an outer passage. The outer passage terminates in a transverse attachment portion. A planar insert is attached to the loop by means of a first cut-out portion through which the attachment portion of the loop passes. At least one section of the insert is sandwiched between the inner and outer passages so that the insert is prevented from rotating substantially out of the plane of the loop.

There are many novelty drinking straws made and sold every year. These novelty drinking straws include drinking passages which are in the form of loops, spirals, flowers, stick figures, eye glasses, etc. Some examples of patents disclosing such novelty drinking straws include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,063,803; 2,557,411; 2,619,770; 3,260,462; 3,326,695; 3,425,626; 3,517,884; 3,606,156; 3,773,256; 3,957,202; 4,374,596; 4,687,306; 4,699,319; 4,828,355; and 5,184,774. Such novelty drinking straws are intended to amuse the users (principally children) by attracting their attention to the visual display made when fluid passes through the drinking tube as the straw is used.
Novelty drinking straws are also known which include a panel for displaying a message such as an advertisement. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,518 discloses such a novelty straw. The straw disclosed in the '518 patent is of a particular construction including a panel having two opposed, flat major faces for the display of indicia thereon, a plurality of channels extending between the major faces and having open ends at opposite sides of the panels, and at least one mouthpiece and one liquid pick-up region formed at the ends of the straw and interconnected by at least two of the panels. As disclosed in the patent, the channels extend linearly up and down from the panel to form the mouthpiece and liquid pick-up region. The patent does not discuss how the straw is formed. It appears from FIGS. 3 and 5 that the entire straw may be integral in construction and possibly extruded and/or molded in some fashion. Clearly, the straw disclosed in this patent has only limited appeal since the drinking tube, itself, is only linear in configuration.
What is needed is a novelty drinking straw on which advertising or amusement material may be displayed, which has a single, convoluted drinking passage, and which is amusing to use. What is further needed is such a novelty drinking straw which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. Additionally it would be particularly advantageous if such a drinking straw included the ability to remove and replace the inserts.


Provided is a laser radar system. The laser radar system includes a first transmission and reception unit sequentially radiating a first laser beam to a plurality of locations within a first view range and receiving a reflected light; and a second transmission and reception unit sequentially radiating a second laser beam to a plurality of locations within a second view range and receiving a reflected light, wherein each of the first transmission and reception unit and the second transmission and reception unit is fixed to a loader and independently searches for the first view range and the second view range.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to a laser radar, and more particularly, to a laser radar system for obtaining a 3D image.
A 3D image system is used for obtaining image content displayed by a 3D display TV. In addition, the 3D image system may be used for monitoring a long-distance military target or a natural environment such as landslide and for obtaining various 3D images around a car needed for the operation of a manless car.
Even a 3D image having a poor quality may play a role in some regions but with the recent sharp expansion of an application region, various environments need a 3D image having an excellent quality. In order to implement a high-quality 3D image, a laser radar system recently takes center stage.
However, in order to obtain a 3D image having a high resolution or frame rate, it is true that a laser radar system involving a high manufacturing cost is needed. The present invention provides a laser radar system that may change a search scope at a low cost and easily change a desired resolution or frame rate.

Laser radar system for obtaining a 3D image

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a nonplanar circuit device. The method includes receiving a substrate having a first semiconductor layer of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor layer of a second semiconductor material on the first semiconductor layer, wherein the second semiconductor material is different from the first semiconductor material in composition. The method further includes patterning the first and second semiconductor layers to form a fin structure in the first and second semiconductor layers. The method further includes performing a selective oxidization process to the first semiconductor layer such that a bottom portion of the first semiconductor layer is oxidized.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized. Similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. For example, a three dimensional transistor, such as a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET), has been introduced to replace a planar transistor. A FinFET can be thought of as a typical planar device extruded out of a substrate and into the gate. A typical FinFET is fabricated with a thin "fin" (or fin structure) extending up from a substrate. The channel of the FET is formed in this vertical fin, and a gate is provided over (e.g., wrapping around) the channel region of the fin. Wrapping the gate around the fin increases the contact area between the channel region and the gate and allows the gate to control the channel from multiple sides. This can be leveraged in a number of way, and in some applications, FinFETs provide reduced short channel effects, reduced leakage, and higher current flow. In other words, they may be faster, smaller, and more efficient than planar devices.
However, because of the complexity inherent in FinFETs and other nonplanar devices, a number of techniques used in manufacturing planar transistors are not well suited to fabricating nonplanar devices. As merely one example, conventional techniques for forming a compound semiconductor channel on an elementary semiconductor substrate may produce undesirable channel strains and/or lattice defects because of the different lattice structures of the different types of semiconductors. Likewise, conventional techniques are unable to effectively form a compound semiconductor oxide or other insulating feature between the channel region and the substrate. Therefore, while existing fabrication techniques have been generally adequate for planar devices, in order to continue to meet ever-increasing design requirements, further advances are needed.

Integrated circuit structure with substrate isolation and un-doped channel

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD


A power-saving column driver integrated circuit, and a power-saving method for driving a liquid crystal display, include a series of multiplexers coupled to the columns of the display. The multiplexers selectively couple each of the columns to a common external storage capacitor during a portion of each row drive period for discharging each of the pixels in the selected row of the liquid crystal display to a median bias voltage. During the remaining portion of each row drive period, the multiplexers selectively couple voltage drivers to the columns of the LCD pixel array for applying a desired driving voltage to each column of the array. The polarity of the driving voltages applied to each column alternates on succeeding row drive periods, and the resulting voltage that is summed on the storage capacitor averages to the median bias voltage. For active matrix liquid crystal display panels, a multiplexer selectively couples the backplane of the display panel to either an external storage capacitor or to an alternating-polarity backplane driving voltage during each row drive period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to circuitry for driving an active or passive matrix liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and more particularly, to a circuit and method which reduce the amount of power required for driving columns of the LCD display matrix.
2. Description of the Background Art
LCD displays are used today in a variety of products, including hand-held games, hand-held computers, and laptop/notebook computers. These displays are available in both gray-scale (monochrome) and color forms, and are typically arranged as a matrix of intersecting rows and columns. The intersection of each row and column forms a pixel, or dot, the density and/or color of which can be varied in accordance with the voltage applied thereto in order to define the gray shades of the liquid crystal display. These various voltages produce the different shades of color on the display, and are normally referred to as "shades of gray" even when speaking of a color display.
It is known to control the image displayed on the screen by individually selecting one row of the display at a time, and applying control voltages to each column of the selected row. The period during which each such row is selected may be referred to as a "row drive period". This process is carried out for each individual row of the screen; for example, if there are 480 rows in the array, then there are typically 480 row drive periods in one display cycle. After the completion of one display cycle during which each row in the array has been selected, a new display cycle begins, and the process is repeated to refresh and/or update the displayed image. Each pixel of the display is periodically refreshed or updated many times each second, both to refresh the voltage stored at the pixel as well as to reflect any changes in the shade to be displayed by such pixel over time.
LCD displays used in computer screens require a relatively large number of such column driver outputs. Color displays typically require three times as many column drivers as conventional "monochrome" LCD displays; such color displays usually require three columns per pixel, one for each of the three primary colors to be displayed. Thus, a typical VGA (480 rows.times.640 columns) color liquid crystal display includes 640.times.3, or 1,920 column lines which must be driven by a like number of column driver outputs.
The column driver circuitry is typically formed upon monolithic integrated circuits. Assuming that an integrated circuit can be provided with 192 column output drivers, then a color VGA display screen requires 10 of such integrated circuits (10.times.192=1,920). One of the goals of circuit designers is to reduce the power consumption of such integrated circuits, both to minimize power drain on the batteries supplying such power and to reduce the power dissipated within the integrated circuit, and hence reduce the temperature at which such integrated circuit operates.
Integrated circuits which serve as column drivers (or "source drivers") for active matrix LCD displays generate different output voltages to define the various "gray shades" on a liquid crystal display. These varying analog output voltages vary the shade of the color that is displayed at a particular point, or pixel, on the display. The column driver integrated circuit must drive the analog voltages onto the columns of the display matrix in the correct timing sequence. A preferred circuit for generating such analog voltages is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 183,474, filed Jan. 18, 1994, entitled "INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR DRIVING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY USING MULTI-LEVEL D/A CONVERTER" and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
Liquid crystal displays (LCD's) are able to display images because the optical transmission characteristics of liquid crystal material change in accordance with the magnitude of the applied voltage. However, the application of a steady DC voltage to a liquid crystal will, over time, permanently change and degrade its physical properties. For this reason, it is common to drive LCDs using drive techniques which charge each liquid crystal with voltages of alternating polarities relative to a common midpoint voltage value. It should be noted that, in this context, the "voltages of alternating polarities" does not necessarily require the use of driving voltages that are greater than, and less than, ground potential, but simply voltages which are above and below a predetermined median display bias voltage. The application of alternating polarity voltages to the pixels of the display is generally known as inversion.
Thus, driving a pixel of liquid crystal material to a particular gray shade actually involves two voltage pulses of equal magnitude but opposite polarity relative to the median display bias voltage. The driving voltage applied to any given pixel during its row drive period of one display cycle is typically reversed in polarity during its row drive period on the next succeeding display cycle. Thus, for a given pixel located in a particular row, the voltage applied thereto might be +6 volts on a first display cycle and -6 volts on the next display cycle. Over time, the average voltage to which the pixel is driven is a median bias point halfway between the positive and negative voltages; in the example set forth above, the median bias voltage is zero volts or ground.
Assuming that a pixel is initially charged to +6 volts during a first display cycle, then during the following display cycle, the column driver circuit that drives the column which intersects the corresponding row where such pixel is located must drive the pixel from its prior value of +6 volts all the way down to -6 volts, a negative transition of 12 volts. On the third display cycle, the column driver circuit will need to drive the same pixel from -6 volts back to the initial +6 volts (or to some other voltage above the median bias voltage if information is to be updated), a positive transition of as much as 12 volts. The same is true for the other 639 pixels (or the other 1,919 pixels, in the case of a color display) located in the same row, as well as for the pixels located in the other 479 rows. These relatively large voltage transitions result in significant power usage which must be sourced by the column driver circuits.
While the most trivial inversion scheme would be one in which every pixel on the display is first driven to its positive value during a first display cycle, and then driven to its negative value during the second display cycle, this scheme may cause the LCD to alternately display two slightly different images, which could be perceived by the viewer as a flicker in the display. Thus, more complex row inversion schemes are commonly employed to reduce or eliminate any such flickering. Typically, a row inversion technique is used such that, during a display cycle, the driving voltages applied to the columns of the array will alternate in polarity between successive row drive periods. Thus, if the pixels in a first row are driven with positive voltages during the first row drive period, then the pixels in the adjacent second row will be driven with negative voltages during the second row drive period, and so forth. During the next display cycle, the polarities are reversed. Hence, during the second display cycle, the pixels in the first row are driven with negative voltages during the first row drive period, and the pixels in the adjacent second row are driven with positive voltages during the second row drive period, and so forth.
When the row inversion scheme described above is used, a given column driver may, for example, need to establish +6 volts on its associated column during the first row drive period of the first display cycle, and then need to establish -6 volts on the same column during the immediately following row drive period. Thus, the column driver must transition from +6 volts to -6 volts, and back again, for every row drive cycle in every display cycle. These relatively large and frequent voltage transitions consume significant amounts of power.
An even more complex inversion scheme is also known to those skilled in the art whereby the voltage applied to each pixel is of opposite polarity from every other pixel adjacent thereto. In other words, if a pixel is charged with a positive polarity voltage, then the adjacent pixels within the same row are charged with negative polarity voltages, and the adjacent pixels in the same column but in the preceding and following rows are also charged with negative polarity voltages, thus forming a "checkerboard" pattern of voltages. In this checkerboard scheme, column driver integrated circuits are typically disposed at both the top and bottom of the display, and drive alternating columns. For example, in a typical 480 row.times.1920 column display, the odd-numbered columns 1, 3, 5, . . . , 1919 are driven from the column driver I.C.'s at the top of the display, while even-numbered columns 2, 4, 6, . . . , 1920 would be driven from the bottom of the display. Since most known column driver I.C.'s allow for global polarity control (i.e. all outputs will drive high, or all outputs will drive low), then it is straightforward to drive adjacent display columns with opposite polarity driving voltages during a given row drive period by simply inverting a global polarity control signal between the top and bottom column drivers of the display.
The aforementioned global polarity control signal can be alternated between high and low logic levels between successive row drive cycles to invert the polarity of the driving voltage on a given column for every row drive period; thus, during a first row drive period, column 1 may be driven positive, and column 2 may be driven negative, while during the second row drive period, column 1 is driven negative, and column 2 is driven positive. This manner of operation may be viewed as column inversion. If this is done in conjunction with the row inversion technique described above, then the voltage polarity on the pixels of the display will alternate, at any one time, in a "checkerboard" fashion, such that no pixel is driven with the same polarity voltage as any of its neighbors.
For optimum performance, an active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) should be driven with voltages ranging between +/-6 Volts with respect to the median bias point. While this voltage range is certainly attainable with known integrated circuit column drivers, it typically precludes the use of small geometry integrated circuit processes, which only support operation at 5 Volts or less. Since column drivers capable of supplying driving voltages exceeding 5 volts must be fabricated using larger geometry processes, available column driver integrated circuits for driving active matrix displays are typically larger and, therefore, more expensive to produce.
In order to avoid such additional expense, it is known to employ an AC drive technique which allows the use of 5 Volt process technology for fabrication of column driver I.C.'s. This AC drive technique relies upon the column drivers themselves to supply only a portion of the total drive voltage which appears across the liquid crystal pixels. The balance of the voltage across each pixel is supplied by driving the backplane display bias voltage with an AC waveform that is out of phase with the column drivers. Consequently, when the column drivers are outputting a positive polarity voltage, the backplane bias voltage is driven by a negative polarity voltage. The resulting voltage across each liquid crystal pixel is the sum of the voltage generated by the column driver plus the backplane bias voltage.
This AC drive technique generally requires that the polarity of the backplane bias voltage be reversed, and that the polarity of the column drivers also be reversed, following each row drive period. The circuit which drives the backplane bias voltage must switch from, for example, +8 volts to -2 volts between the first and second row drive periods, and from -2 volts back to +8 volts between the second and third row drive periods. In each case, the backplane voltage driver must switch through a transition of ten volts. As the backplane of the display has a significant amount of capacitance associated therewith, a significant amount of power is consumed to continuously switch the backplane bias voltage between successive row drive periods.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a column driver circuit for driving the columns of a liquid crystal display matrix and which reduces the power consumed from a power source when applying alternating polarity drive voltages to the columns of the LCD matrix.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a circuit which reduces the power dissipated within such circuit when applying alternating polarity drive voltages to the columns of the LCD matrix.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a power-saving circuit compatible with known row inversion driving schemes for LCD displays.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a power-saving circuit compatible with known column inversion driving schemes for LCD displays.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide such a power-saving circuit for reducing the power consumed by an active matrix LCD display wherein the backplane bias voltage of the display is driven using the AC drive technique described above.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for driving liquid crystal displays which reduces power consumption.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the description of the present invention proceeds.

Power-saving circuit and method for driving liquid crystal display


The present invention generally provides a robot that can transfer a workpiece, such as a silicon wafer, at increased speeds and accelerations/decelerations. More particularly, the present invention provides a robot wrist for mechanically clamping a workpiece to a workpiece handling member of an extendable robot arm. The wafer clamp selectively applies sufficient force to center the workpiece and prevent slippage and damage to the workpiece during rapid rotation and radial movement of the handling member. In one embodiment, a clamp for securing silicon wafers uses two independent clamp fingers to position and hold the wafer with minimal particle generation and wafer damage. The clamp is designed so that wafers are normally clamped except during full extension of the wafer handling member to deliver or pickup a wafer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clamping mechanism that secures a workpiece to a mechanical arm. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clamp that gently secures and centers a semiconductor wafer to a robot blade when the robot arms are at least partially retracted for rotation within a transfer chamber.
2. Background of the Related Art
Modern semiconductor processing systems include cluster tools that integrate a number of process chambers together in order to perform several sequential processing steps without removing the substrate from the highly controlled processing environment. These chambers may include, for example, degas chambers, substrate pre-conditioning chambers, cooldown chambers, transfer chambers, chemical vapor deposition chambers, physical vapor deposition chambers, and etch chambers. The combination of chambers in a cluster tool, as well as the operating conditions and parameters under which those chambers are run, are selected to fabricate specific structures using a specific process recipe and process flow.
Once the cluster tool has been set up with a desired set of chambers and auxiliary equipment for performing certain process steps, the cluster tool will typically process a large number of substrates by continuously passing them, one by one, through a series of chambers or process steps. The process recipes and sequences will typically be programmed into a microprocessor controller that will direct, control and monitor the processing of each substrate through the cluster tool. Once an entire cassette of wafers has been successfully processed through the cluster tool, the cassette may be passed to yet another cluster tool or stand alone tool, such as a chemical mechanical polisher, for further processing.
The amount of time required by each process and handling step has a direct impact on the throughput of substrates per unit of time. Processes that require greater amounts of time to achieve the desired result may necessitate that multiple chambers or tools be operated in parallel. On the other hand, processes that are completed in a short amount of time may be allowed to sit idle for brief periods, depending upon the economic considerations of cost of ownership and cost of operation. However, while the exact design of an integrated circuit fabrication system may be complex, it is almost always beneficial to perform each step as quickly as possible to maximize overall throughput without detrimentally effecting product quality, operating costs or the life of the equipment. One exemplary fabrication system is the cluster tool, shown in FIG. 1, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,718, entitled "Staged-Vacuum Wafer Processing System and Method," Tepman et al., issued on Feb. 16, 1993, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The substrate throughput in a cluster tool can be improved by increasing the speed of the wafer handling robot positioned in each transfer chamber. The robot of FIG. 1 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 and is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,035 entitled "Two-axis Magnetically Coupled Robot," issued on Nov. 21, 1995, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Referring to FIG. 2, the magnetically coupled robot comprises a frog-leg type connection or arms between the magnetic clamps and the wafer blade to provide both radial and rotational movement of the robot blade within a fixed plane. Radial and rotational movements can be coordinated or combined in order to pickup, transfer and deliver substrates from one location within the cluster tool to another, such as from one chamber to an adjacent chamber.
As the robot speed and acceleration increase, the amount of time spent handling each substrate and delivering each substrate to its next destination is decreased. However, the desire for speed must be balanced against the possibility of damaging the substrate or the films formed thereon. If a robot moves the wafer blade too abruptly, or rotates the wafer blade too fast, then the wafer may slide off the blade, potentially damaging both the wafer and the chamber or robot.
The robot blade is typically made with a wafer bridge on the distal end of the wafer blade that extends upward to restrain the wafer from slipping over the end. However, the wafer bridge does not extend around the sides of the blade and does very little to prevent the wafer from slipping laterally (i.e., side to side) on the blade. Furthermore, the wafers are not always perfectly positioned against the bridge. Sudden movement or high rotational speeds may throw the wafer against the bridge and cause damage to the wafer or cause the wafer to slip over the bridge and/or off of the blade.
There is a certain amount of friction that exists between the bottom surface of a wafer and the top surface of the wafer blade to resist slippage of the wafer. However, the bottom surface of a silicon wafer is very smooth and has a low coefficient of friction with the wafer blade, which is typically made of stainless steel or ceramic. Furthermore, a typical wafer is so lightweight that the total resistance due to friction is easily exceeded by the centrifugal forces applied during rapid rotation of the robot, even when the blade is in the fully retracted position. However, this low coefficient of friction is typically relied upon when determining the speed at which the robot rotates.
Therefore, there is still a need for a robot that can transfer wafers at increased speeds and accelerations/decelerations. More particularly, there is a need for a wafer clamping mechanism for a robot that can secure a wafer with sufficient force to prevent slippage and wafer damage during rapid rotation and radial movement. It would be desirable if the clamping mechanism would cause minimal or no particle generation and wafer damage. It would be further desirable if the clamp would automatically engage the wafer except during full extension of the wafer blade when the blade is delivering or picking up a wafer.


According to the present invention there is provided hair treatment compositions comprising: (a) at least one associative polymer; (b) at least one long chain alcohol; (c) at least one cationic surfactant; wherein the weight ratio of (b):(c) is greater about 1.5:1. The compositions of the present invention have an excellent rheology profile and deliver good conditioning benefits. The compositions herein are stable during storage white being easy to dispense and apply to the hair.

This application is a 371 of PCT/IB00/01313 filed Sep. 15, 2000,
The present invention relates to hair care compositions. In particular, it relates to hair care compositions which give good conditioning and have good viscosity characteristics.
Hair is often subjected to a wide variety of insults that can cause damage. These include shampooing, rinsing, drying, heating, combing, styling, perming, colouring, exposure to the elements etc. Thus the hair is often in a dry, rough, lusterless or frizzy condition due to abrasion of the hair surface and removal of the hair""s natural oils and other natural conditioning and moisturizing components.
A variety of approaches have been developed to alleviate these conditions. These include the use of ultra mild shampoo compositions, the use of hair conditioning shampoos which attempt to both cleanse and condition the hair from a single product and the use of hair conditioning formulations such as rinse-off and leave-on products. Leave-on hair care formulations provide added advantages over the other approaches. For example, leave-on formulations are more cost effective and work for a longer duration because the conditioning ingredients remain on the hair. They are more convenient because the consumer can use the product at any time and does not have to wait to rinse the product.
Also, the product may be applied to the parts of the hair most in need of the conditioning benefits.
Commonly, the conditioning benefit is provided through the use of hair conditioning agents such as cationic surfactants, cationic polymers, silicone conditioning agents, hydrocarbon and other organic oils and solid aliphatics such as fatty alcohols. These conditioning agents are well known in the art. See, for example, WO-A-97/35542, WO-A-97/35545, WO-A-97/35546, all of which describe the use of conditioning agents in shampoo compositions, GB-A-2,211,192, which describes the use of cationic polysaccharides in a rinse-off conditioning composition and DE-A-4,326,866 which describes a composition for use prior to cutting of the hair that comprises a cationic polysaccharide. For optimal effect the conditioning agent should be evenly distributed through the hair. It is therefore important, especially for leave-on compositions, that the rheology profile be such that the composition is easy to dispense, easy to apply to the hair and easy to work through the hair. However, it can be difficult to formulate compositions that have an excellent rheology profile as well as good conditioning benefits. This problem has been addressed in a number of ways. For example, US-A-5,100,657, US-A-5,104,646 and US-A-5,106,609 all disclose hair conditioning compositions that are based on a substantially non-depositing vehicle base.
It has now been surprisingly found that compositions comprising at least one associative polymer, at least one long chain aliphatic alcohol and at least one cationic surfactant, wherein the weight ratio of alcohol to surfactant is greater than about 1.5:1, have excellent rheology profiles while at the same time provide good conditioning benefits to the hair.
While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the associative polymers form a xe2x80x98gel-likexe2x80x99 network with the cationic surfactant and the long chain alcohol. This interaction is thought to be strong enough to provide stability during storage and dispensing while at the same time being weak enough to break down under the shear stresses associated with application to the hair thereby providing a product which is easy to work through the hair.
According to the present invention there is provided hair care compositions comprising:
(a) at least one associative polymer;
(b) at least one long chain aliphatic alcohol;
(c) at least one cationic surfactant;
wherein the weight ratio of (b):(c) is greater than about 1.5:1.
The compositions of the present invention have an excellent rheology profile and deliver good conditioning benefits. The compositions herein are stable during storage while being easy to dispense and apply to the hair.
All percentages herein are by weight of the composition unless otherwise indicated. All ratios are weight ratios unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages, ratios, and levels of ingredients referred to herein are based on the actual amount of the ingredient, and do not include solvents, fillers, or other materials which may be combined with the ingredient in commercially available products.
All documents referred to herein, including all patents, all patent applications and all articles, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety unless otherwise indicated.
As used herein the term xe2x80x9cleave-onxe2x80x9d means a hair care composition that is intended to be used without a rinsing step. Therefore, leave-on compositions will generally be left on the hair until the consumer next washes their hair as part of their cleansing regimen. Leave-on will generally comprise less than about 5% of anionic surfactant.
The hair care compositions of the present invention comprise at least one associative polymer, at least one cationic surfactant and at least one long chain alcohol. The weight ratio of long chain alcohol to cationic surfactant is greater than about 1.5:1, preferably at least about 2:1, more preferably at least about 2.5:1, even more preferably at least about 3:1, still more preferably about 4:1.
Preferably, the compositions of the present invention are leave-on compositions.
Assocaitive Polymers
The compositions of the present invention must comprise at least one associative polymer.
In the compositions according to the present invention preferred associative polymers are nonionic associative polymers having an average molecular weight in the range of from about 2,000 to about 2,000,000, preferably from about 10,000 to about 1,000,000, more preferably from about 20,000 to about 800,000.
Associative polymers are a subclass of water-soluble polymers and are generally water-soluble macromolecular structures having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic components. Associative polymers can thicken compositions as a result of intermolecular association between the various water-insoluble hydrophobic components which form a part of, or are bonded to (directly or indirectly) a water-soluble polymer backbone (discussed in detail by G. D. Shay in Polymers in Aqueous Media, Advances in Chemistry series 223, pp467. Edited by J. E. Glass).
Associative polymers suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, hydrophobically modified hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers such as hydrophobically modified hydroxyethyl cellulose (HMHEC), hydrophobically modified alkoxylated urethane polymers, such as hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane (HEUR), and hydrophobically modified nonionic polyols. Preferred for use herein are hydrophobically modified hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers and hydrophobically modified alkoxylated urethane polymers and mixtures thereof. More preferred are hydrophobically modified hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers and mixtures thereof.
Hydrophobically Modified Hydroxyalkyl Cellulose Thickener
Cellulose ethers suitable for use herein, have, prior to hydrophobic modification, a sufficient degree of nonionic substitution selected from methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl to cause them to be water-soluble. The preferred degree of nonionic substitution is in the range of from about 1.8 to about 4.0, preferably from about 2 to about 3, and especially from about 2.2 to about 2.8 by weight. The cellulose ethers are then further substituted with alkyl or alkenyl groups having from about 8 to about 30, preferably from about 10 to about 24, more preferably from about 14 to about 18 carbon atoms in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 1, preferably from about 0.3 to about 0.8, and especially from about 0.4 to about 0.6 weight percent. The cellulose ether to be modified is preferably one of low to medium molecular weight, i.e., less than 800,000 and preferably between 20,000 and 700,000 (75 to 2500 D.P.). Degree of polymerisation (D.P.) as defined herein, means, the average number of glycoside units in the polymer.
Preferred cellulose ethers for use herein are selected from commercially available nonionic cellulose ethers such as hydroxy ethyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose, hydroxy methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose and mixtures thereof.
The preferred cellulose ether substrate, for use herein, is a hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) of from about 50,000 to about 700,000 molecular weight. Hydroxyethyl cellulose of this molecular weight level is the most hydrophilic of the materials completed. Accordingly, control of the modification process and control of the properties of the modified product can be more precise with this substrate. Hydrophilicity of the most commonly used nonionic cellulose ethers varies in the general direction: hydroxyethyl greater than hydroxypropyl greater than hydroxypropyl methyl greater than methyl.
The long chain alkyl modifier, for the cellulose ether, can be attached to the cellulose ether substrate via an ether, ester or urethane linkage. The ether linkage is preferred. Although the modified cellulose ether materials are referred to as being xe2x80x9calkyl modifiedxe2x80x9d, (the term alkyl as used generally herein also includes using alkenyl) it will be recognised that except in the case where modification is effected with an alkyl halide, the modifier is not a simple long chain alkyl group. The group is actually an alphahydroxyalkyl radical in the case of an epoxide, a urethane radical in the case of an isocyanate, or an acyl radical in the case of an acid or acyl chloride. General methods for making modified cellulose ethers are taught in Landoll (""277) at column 2, lines 36-65.
Commercially available materials preferred for use herein include NATROSOL PLUS Grade 330 C ((trademark)), a hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose available from Aqualon Company, Wilmington, Delaware. This material has a C16 alkyl substitution of from 0.4% to 0.8% by weight. The hydroxyethyl molar substitution for this material is from 3.0 to 3.7. The average molecular weight for the water-soluble cellulose prior to modification is approximately 300,000. Also suitable for use herein is NATROSOL PLUS Grade 430 CS ((trademark))
Another material of this type is sold under the trade name NATROSOL PLUS CS Grade D-67 (trademark), by Aqualon Company, Wilmington, Del. This material has a C16 substitution of from 0.50% to 0.95%, by weight. The hydroxyethyl molar substitution for this material is from 2.3 to 3.7. The average molecular weight for the water soluble cellulose prior to modification is approximately 700,000. Highly preferred for use herein is Natrosol Plus Grade 330 C.
Hydrophobically Modified Alkoxylate Urethane Thickener
Hydrophobically modified water-soluble nonionic alkoxylated urethane polymers are made by prepolymerisation of a diisocyanate with a polyol followed by end capping with primary amines or primary alcohols. The resulting molecule is usually a linear block copolymer, with internal and terminal hydrophobes but branched and cross linked polymer can also be obtained.
The polymerisation process is very complex and various resulting polymer structures can be formed as reviewed in the literature by Hulden (Colloids and Surfaces, 82, 263-277), Kaczmarski et al. (Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng., 67, 282-283), and Karunasena et al. (Polymers in aqueous media, Advances in Chemistry Series, 223, 495-525). Further details on hydrophobically modified water-soluble nonionic alkoxylated urethane polymers as thickeners are discussed in the paper titled xe2x80x98Polymers in Cosmeticsxe2x80x99, presented by Rohm and Haas as part of xe2x80x98The Proceedings of the 20th National Congress of the Society of Italian Cosmetic Chemists 1993xe2x80x99 at p29.
Preferred hydrophobically modified water-soluble nonionic alkoxylated urethane polymers for use herein are described by Kaczmarski et al. as linear block copolymers (which can be obtained by a stepxe2x80x94growth process) and can have the following general structures:
R2xe2x80x94NHCOxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94R1[NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94Enxe2x80x94CH2CH2O CONHxe2x80x94R1]xxe2x80x94NHCOxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94R2
R2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CONHxe2x80x94R1[NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94Enxe2x80x94CH2CH2O CONHxe2x80x94R1]xxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94R2
wherein: En is a polyol having the general formula, (CH2CH2O)n, n can vary from 10 to 10,000, preferably from 10 to 1,000, and more preferably from 50 to 500; R1 includes straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or aromatic groups containing pendant functional groups e.g. COOH; R2 includes straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or aromatic groups containing pendant functional groups e.g. COOH and wherein R2 is preferably selected from NH2 or OH and wherein x represents the degree of polymerisation.
Preferred hydrophobically modified water-soluble nonionic alkoxylated urethane polymers suitable for use herein are those sold by ISP Co. under Aculyn 44 ((trademark)) and Aculyn 46 (trademark), by Berol Nobel under Bermodol 2101 (trademark), 2130 (trademark) and Bermodol Pur 2100 (trademark) and by Servo under the name Ser-Ad-FX-100 (trademark).
Hydrophobically Modified Nonionic Polyols
Also suitable for use herein as thickeners are hydrophobically modified water-soluble nonionic polyols. Suitable hydrophobically modified water-soluble nonionic polyols for use herein are PEG 120 methyl glucoside dioleate (available from Amercol under the trade name Glucamate DOE 120), PEG-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate (available from Croda under the trade name Crothix (trademark), PEG-75 dioleate (available from Kessco under the trade name PEG-4000 dioleate (trademark) and PEG-150 distearate (available from Witco under the trade name Witconal L32 (trademark).
Preferably, the total level of associative polymer present in the compositions herein is from about 0.001% to about 15%, more preferably about 0.01% to about 5%, even more preferably about 0.1% to about 1%.
Cationic Surfactant
A second essential component of the present invention is that they comprise at least one cationic surfactant. Cationic surfactants useful in compositions of the present invention contain amino or quaternary ammonium moieties. Cationic surfactants among those useful herein are disclosed in the following documents: M.C. Publishing Co., McCutcheon""s, Detergents and Emulsifiers, (North American edition 1979); Schwartz, et al.; Surface Active Agents, Their Chemistry and Technology, New York: Interscience Publishers, 1949; U.S. Pat. No. 3,155,591, Hilfer, issued Nov. 3, 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 30, 1975; U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,461, Bailey et al., issued May 25, 1976; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,090, Bolich, Jr., issued Jun. 7, 1983.
Among the quaternary ammonium-containing cationic surfactant materials useful herein are those of the general formula:
wherein R1-R4 are independently an aliphatic group of from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms or an aromatic, alkoxy, polyoxyalkylene, alkylamido, hydroxyalkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group having from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms; and X is a salt-forming anion such as those selected from halogen, (e.g. chloride, bromide), acetate, citrate, lactate, glycolate, phosphate nitrate, sulfate, and alkylsulfate radicals. The aliphatic groups may contain, in addition to carbon and hydrogen atoms, ether linkages, and other groups such as amino groups. The longer chain aliphatic groups, e.g., those of about 12 carbons, or higher, can be saturated or unsaturated. Especially preferred are mono-long chain (e.g., mono C12 to C22, preferably C12 to C18, more preferably C16, aliphatic, preferably alkyl), di-short chain (e.g., C1 to C3 alkyl, preferably C1 to C2 alkyl) quaternary ammonium salts.
Salts of primary, secondary and tertiary fatty amines are also suitable cationic surfactant materials. The alkyl groups of such amines preferably have from about 12 to about 22 carbon atoms, and may be substituted or unsubstituted. Such amines, useful herein, include stearamido propyl dimethyl amine, diethyl amino ethyl stearamide, dimethyl stearamine, dimethyl soyamine, soyamine, myristyl amine, tridecyl amine, ethyl stearylamine, N-tallowpropane diamine, ethoxylated (with 5 moles of ethylene oxide) stearylamine, dihydroxy ethyl stearylamine, and arachidylbehenylamine. Suitable amine salts include the halogen, acetate, phosphate, nitrate, citrate, lactate, and alkyl sulfate salts. Such salts include stearylamine hydrochloride, soyamine chloride, stearylamine formate, N-tallowpropane diamine dichloride, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine citrate, cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and dicetyl diammonium chloride. Preferred for use in the compositions herein are cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, tetradecyltrimethly ammonium chloride, dicetyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dicocodimethyl ammonium chloride and mixtures thereof. More preferred is cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. Cationic amine surfactants included among those useful in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,055, Nachtigal, et al., issued Jun. 23, 1981.
The total level of cationic surfactants present in the compositions herein is preferably from about 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.25% to about 5%, most preferably from about 0.3% to about 0.7%, by weight of total composition.
Long Chain Alcohols
A third essential component of the compositions of the present invention is that they comprise at least one long chain alcohol. As used herein the term xe2x80x9clong chain alcoholxe2x80x9d means an alcohol having eight or more carbon atoms arranged in a chain. They can be linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated. Generally the alcohols used will contain from 8 to 30 carbon atoms.
Any long chain alcohol suitable for use in hair care may be used herein. However, preferred are alcohols with C10 to C22 chains and mixtures thereof, more preferred are those with C12 to C20 chains and mixtures thereof, even more preferred are those with C16 to C18 chains and mixtures thereof. Preferred are alcohols with linear, saturated chains.
Preferred alcohols for use herein are those with one hydroxyl moiety (mono-ols), two hydroxyl moieties (diols) or three hydroxyl moieties (triols). More preferred are mono-ols.
Preferably the compositions of the present invention comprise a mixture of long chain alcohols. More preferred are mixtures of C16 and C18 long chain alcohols. Even more preferred is when the ratio of C16 to C18 is 3:2.
The total level of long chain alcohols present in compositions herein is preferably from about 0.1% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.25% to about 10%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, by weight of total composition.
The hair care compositions of the present invention can further comprise a number of optional components. Some non-limiting examples of these optional components are given below.
Anionic Surfactant
It is preferred that the compositions of the present invention comprise less than about 10%, preferably less than about 5%, more preferably less than about 2%, even more preferably less than about 1%, even more preferably still 0%, by weight, of an anionic surfactant. As used herein, xe2x80x9canionic surfactantxe2x80x9d means anionic surfactants and zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants which have an attached group that is anionic at the pH of the composition, or a combination thereof.
Cationic Conditioningq Agents
The compositions of the present invention can also comprise one or more cationic polymer conditioning agents. The cationic polymer conditioning agents will preferably be water soluble. If present, cationic polymers preferably comprise from about 0.001% to about 20%, more typically from about 0.005% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 2%, by weight, of the total composition.
By xe2x80x9cwater soluble cationic polymerxe2x80x9d, what is meant is a polymer which is sufficiently soluble in water to form a substantially clear solution to the naked eye at a concentration of 0.1% in water (distilled or equivalent) at 25xc2x0 C. Preferably, the polymer will be sufficiently soluble to form a substantially clear solution at 0.5% concentration,
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cpolymerxe2x80x9d shall include materials whether made by polymerization of one type of monomer or made by two (i.e., copolymers) or more types of monomers.
The cationic polymers hereof will generally have a weight average molecular weight which is at least about 5,000, typically at least about 10,000, and is less than about 10 million. Preferably, the molecular weight is from about 100,000 to about 2 million. The cationic polymers will generally have cationic nitrogen-containing moieties such as quaternary ammonium or cationic amino moieties, and mixtures thereof.
The cationic charge density is preferably at least about 0.1 meq/g, more preferably at least about 0.5 meq/g, even more preferably at least about 1.1 meq/g, most preferably at least about 1.5 meq/g. Generally, for practical purposes, the cationic polymers will have a cationic charge density of less than about 7 meq/g, preferably less than about 5 meq/g, more preferably less than about 3.5 meq/g, even more preferably less than about 2.5 meq/g. Cationic charge density of the cationic polymer can be determined using the Kjeldahl Method (United States Pharmacopoeiaxe2x80x94Chemical testsxe2x80x94 less than 461 greater than  Nitrogen Determinationxe2x80x94method II). Those skilled in the art will recognise that the charge density of some amino-containing polymers may vary depending upon pH and the isoelectric point of the amino groups. The charge density should be within the above limits at the pH of intended use.
Any anionic counterions can be utilized for the cationic polymers so long as the water solubility criteria is met. Suitable counterions include halides (e.g., Cl, Br, I, or F, preferably Cl, Br, or I), sulfate, and methylsulfate. Others can also be used, as this list is not exclusive.
The cationic nitrogen-containing moiety will be present generally as a substituent, on a fraction of the total monomer units of the cationic hair conditioning polymers. Thus, the cationic polymer can comprise copolymers, terpolymers, etc. of quaternary ammonium or cationic amine-substituted monomer units and other non-cationic units referred to herein as spacer monomer units. Such polymers are known in the art, and a variety can be found in the CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 7th edition, edited by Wenninger and McEwen, (The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, Inc., Washington, D.C., 1997).
Suitable cationic polymers include, for example, copolymers of vinyl monomers having cationic amine or quaternary ammonium functionalities with water soluble spacer monomers such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, alkyl and dialkyl acrylamides, alkyl and dialkyl methacrylamides, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, vinyl caprolactone, and vinyl pyrrolidone. The alkyl and dialkyl substituted monomers preferably have C1-C7 alkyl groups, more preferably C1-C3 alkyl groups. Other suitable spacer monomers include vinyl esters, vinyl alcohol (made by hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate), maleic anhydride, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol.
The cationic amines can be primary, secondary, or tertiary amines, depending upon the particular species and the pH of the composition. In general, secondary and tertiary amines, especially tertiary amines, are preferred.
Amine-substituted vinyl monomers can be polymerised in the amine form, and then optionally can be converted to ammonium by a quaternization reaction.
Amines can also be similarly quaternized subsequent to formation of the polymer. For example, tertiary amine functionalities can be quaternized by reaction with a salt of the formula Rxe2x80x2X wherein Rxe2x80x2 is a short chain alkyl, preferably a C1-C7 alkyl, more preferably a C1-C3 alkyl, and X is an anion which forms a water soluble salt with the quaternized ammonium.
Suitable cationic amino and quaternary ammonium monomers include, for example, vinyl compounds substituted with dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, monoalkylaminoalkyl acrylate, monoalkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, trialkyl methacryloxyalkyl ammonium salt, trialkyl acryloxyalkyl ammonium salt, diallyl quaternary ammonium salts, and vinyl quaternary ammonium monomers having cyclic cationic nitrogen-containing rings such as pyridinium, imidazolium, and quaternized pyrrolidone, e.g., alkyl vinyl imidazolium, alkyl vinyl pyridinium, alkyl vinyl pyrrolidone salts. The alkyl portions of these monomers are preferably lower alkyls such as the C1-C3 alkyls, more preferably C1 and C2 alkyls. Suitable amine-substituted vinyl monomers for use herein include dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, and dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylamide, wherein the alkyl groups are preferably C1-C7 hydrocarbyls, more preferably C1-C3, alkyls.
The cationic polymers hereof can comprise mixtures of monomer units derived from amine- and/or quaternary ammonium-substituted monomer and/or compatible spacer monomers.
Suitable cationic hair conditioning polymers include, for example: copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and 1-vinyl-3-methylimidazolium salt (e.g., chloride salt) (referred to in the industry by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, xe2x80x9cCTFAxe2x80x9d, as Polyquaternium-16), such as those commercially available from BASF Wyandotte Corp. (Parsippany, N.J., USA) under the LUVIQUAT tradename (e.g., LUVIQUAT FC 370); copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (referred to in the industry by CTFA as Polyquaternium-11) such as those commercially available from Gaf Corporation (Wayne, N.J., USA) under the GAFQUAT tradename (e.g., GAFQUAT 755N); cationic diallyl quaternary ammonium-containing polymers, including, for example, dimethyidiallylammonium chloride homopolymer and copolymers of acrylamide and dimethyidiallylammonium chloride, referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 6 and Polyquaternium 7, respectively; and mineral acid salts of amino-alkyl esters of homo- and co-polymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,256.
Preferred cationic polymers for use herein are cationic polymers and copolymers of saccharides. The cationic polysaccharides useful in the present invention include those polymers based on 5 or 6 carbon sugars and derivatives which have been made water-soluble by, for example, derivatising them with ethylene oxide. These polymers may be bonded via any of several arrangements, such as 1,4-xcex1, 1,4-xcex2, 1,3-xcex1, 1,3-xcex2 and 1,6 linkages. The monomers may be in straight chain or branched chain geometric arrangements.
Suitable non-limiting examples of cationic polysaccharides include those based on the following: celluloses, hydroxyalkylcelluloses, starches, hydroxyalkyl starches, polymers based on arabinose monomers, polymers derived from xylose, polymers derived from fucose, polymers derived from fructose, polymers based on acid-containing sugars such as galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid, polymers based on amine sugars such as galactosamine and glucosamine particularly acetylglucosamine, polymers based on 5 or 6 membered ring polyalcohols, polymers based on galactose, polymers based on mannose monomers and polymers based on galactomannan copolymer known as guar gum.
Preferred for providing shine and conditioning benefits to the hair with reduced tack and greasiness are cationic polymers based on celluloses and acetylglucosamine derivatives, especially cationic polymers of cellulose derivatives. Non-limiting examples of suitable cationic polymers are those available from Amerchol Corp. (Edison, N.J., USA) as salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide, referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 10. Background material on these polymers and their manufacture, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,840 (issued Oct. 14 1969 to Stone), herein incorporated by reference. Other types of cationic cellulose include the polymeric quaternary ammonium salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with lauryl dimethyl ammonium-substituted epoxide, referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 24, available from Amerchol Corp. (Edison, N.J., USA) and polymeric quaternary ammonium salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, referred to in the industry (CTFA) as Polyquaternium 4, available from National Starch (Salisbury, N.C., USA).
The cationic copolymers of saccharides useful in the present invention encompass those containing the following saccharide monomers: glucose, galactose, mannose, arabinose, xylose, fucose, fructose, glucosamine, galactosamine, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, and 5 or 6 membered ring polyalcohols. Also included are hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl derivatives of the above sugars. When saccharides are bonded to each other in the copolymers, they may be bonded via any of several arrangements, such as 1,4-xcex1, 1,4-xcex2, 1,3-xcex1, 1,3-xcex2 and 1,6 linkages. Any other monomers can be used as long as the resultant polymer is suitable for use in hair care. Non-limiting examples of other monomers useful herein include dimethyidiallylammonium chloride, dimethylaminoethylmethyl acrylate, diethyldiallylammonium chloride, N,N-diallyl,Nxe2x80x94N-dialkyl ammonium halides, and the like.
As discussed above, the cationic polymer hereof is water soluble. This does not mean, however, that it must be soluble in the composition. Preferably however, the cationic polymer is either soluble in the composition, or in a complex coacervate phase in the composition formed by the cationic polymer and anionic material. Complex coacervates of the cationic polymer can be formed with anionic surfactants or with anionic polymers that can optionally be added to the compositions hereof (e.g., sodium polystyrene sulfonate).
Silicone Conditioning Agent
The compositions of the present invention may optionally include a silicone conditioning component. The silicone conditioning component may comprise volatile silicone, nonvolatile silicone, or mixtures thereof.
The silicone conditioning component for use herein can be a silicone fluid, a silicone gum, a silicone resin and/or mixtures thereof. References disclosing non-limiting examples of some suitable silicone hair conditioning agents, and optional suspending agents for the silicone, are described in WO-A-94/08557 (Brock et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,436 (Royce et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,646 (Bolich Jr. et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,609 (Bolich Jr. et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. Reissue 34,584 (Grote et al.) British Patent 849,433.
Silicone resins are highly cross-linked siloxane systems where the crosslinking is introduced through the incorporation of trifunctional and tetrafunctional silanes with monofunctional or difunctional, or both, silanes during manufacture of the silicone resin. As is well understood in the art, the degree of crosslinking that is required in order to result in a silicone resin will vary according to the specific silane units incorporated into the silicone resin. In general, silicone materials which have a sufficient level of trifunctional and tetrafunctional siloxane monomer units (and hence, a sufficient level of crosslinking) such that they dry down to a rigid, or hard, film are considered to be silicone resins. The ratio of oxygen atoms to silicon atoms is indicative of the level of crosslinking in a particular silicone material. Silicone materials which have at least about 1.1 oxygen atoms per silicon atom will generally be silicone resins herein. Preferably, the ratio of oxygen:silicon atoms is at least about 1.2:1.0. Silanes used in the manufacture of silicone resins include monomethyl, dimethyl, trimethyl, monophenyl, diphenyl, methylphenyl, ethylphenyl, propylphenyl, monovinyl, and methylvinylchlorosilanes, and tetrachlorosilane.
If present, the silicone resin will generally comprise from about 0.001% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.005% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.01% to about 2%, even more preferably from about 0.1% to about 1%, by weight, of the total composition.
Any polysiloxane resin suitable for use in hair care compositions may be used herein including those possessing hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkaryl, arylalkyl arylalkoxy, alkaryloxy and alkamino substituents. However, preferred polysiloxane resins have at least one substituent group possessing delocalised electrons. This substituent can be selected from alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkaryl, arylalkyl arylalkoxy, alkaryloxy, and combinations thereof. Preferred are aryl, arylalkyl and alkaryl substituents. More preferred are alkaryl and arylalkyl substituents. Even more preferred are alkaryl substituents, particularly 2-phenyl propyl. Whereas it is preferred that at least one substituent have delocalised electrons, the resins herein will also generally have other substituents without delocalised electrons. Such other substituents can include hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxy, amino functionalities and mixtures thereof. Preferred are alkyl substituents, especially methyl substituents.
As used herein the term xe2x80x9carylxe2x80x9d means a functionality containing one or more homocyclic or heterocyclic rings. The aryl functionalities herein can be unsubstituted or substituted and generally contain from 3 to 16 carbon atoms. Preferred aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, cyclopentadienyl, anthracyl, pyrene, pyridine, pyrimidine
As used herein the term xe2x80x9calkylxe2x80x9d means a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched-chain, hydrocarbon having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The term xe2x80x9calkylxe2x80x9d therefore includes alkenyls having from 2 to 8, preferably 2 to 4, carbons and alkynyls having from 2 to 8, preferably 2 to 4, carbons. Preferred alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, and butyl. More preferred are methyl, ethyl and propyl.
As used herein the term xe2x80x9calkarylxe2x80x9d means a substituent comprising an alkyl moiety and an aryl moiety wherein the alkyl moiety is bonded to the siloxane resin.
As used herein the term xe2x80x9carylalkylxe2x80x9d means a substituent comprising an aryl moiety and an alkyl moiety wherein the aryl moiety is bonded to the siloxane resin.
Silicone materials and silicone resins in particular, can conveniently be identified according to a shorthand nomenclature system well known to those skilled in the art as xe2x80x9cMDTQxe2x80x9d nomenclature. Under this system, the silicone is described according to presence of various siloxane monomer units which make up the silicone. Briefly, the symbol M denotes the monofunctional unit (CH3)3SiO0.5; D denotes the difunctional unit (CH3)2SiO; T denotes the trifunctional unit (CH3)SiO1.5; and Q denotes the quadri- or tetra-functional unit SiO2. Primes of the unit symbols, e.g., Mxe2x80x2, Dxe2x80x2, and Txe2x80x2, denote siloxane units with one or more substituents other than methyl, and must be specifically defined for each occurrence. Therefore, the preferred polysiloxane resins for use herein have at least one Mxe2x80x2, Dxe2x80x2, or Txe2x80x2 functionality that possesses a substituent group with delocalised electrons. Preferred substituents are as defined hereinabove. The molar ratios of the various units, either in terms of subscripts to the symbols indicating the total number of each type of unit in the silicone (or an average thereof) or as specifically indicated ratios in combination with molecular weight complete the description of the silicone material under the MDTQ system.
Preferred polysiloxane resins for use herein are MQ and Mxe2x80x2Q resins, more preferred are Mxe2x80x2Q resins especially Mxe2x80x26Q3, Mxe2x80x28Q4, Mxe2x80x210 Q5, Mxe2x80x212Q6 resins and mixture thereof. Preferred Mxe2x80x2Q resins are those which have at least one group containing delocalised electrons substituted on each Mxe2x80x2 functionality. More preferred are resins where the other substituent groups are alkyl, especially methyl.
The polysiloxane resins for use herein will preferably have a viscosity of less than about 5000 mm2sxe2x88x921, more preferably less than about 2000 mm2sxe2x88x921, even more preferably less than about 1000 mm2sxe2x88x921, even more still preferably less than about 600 mm2sxe2x88x921, at 25xc2x0 C. The viscosity can be measured by means of a Cannon-Fenske Routine Viscometer (ASTM D-445).
Background material on polysiloxane resins suitable for use herein, including details of their manufacture, can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,137; 5,672,338; 5,686,547 and 5,684,112, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Silicone fluids for use in the present compositions include silicone oils which are flowable silicone materials with a viscosity of less than 1,000,000 mm2sxe2x88x921, preferably between about 5 and 1,000,000 mm2sxe2x88x921, more preferably between about 10 and about 600,000 mm2sxe2x88x921, more preferably between about 10 and about 500,000 mm2sxe2x88x921, most preferably between 10 and 350,000 mm2sxe2x88x921 at 25xc2x0 C. The viscosity can be measured by means of a glass capillary viscometer as set forth in Dow Corning Corporate Test Method CTM0004, Jul. 20, 1970. Suitable silicone oils include polyalkyl siloxanes, polyaryl siloxanes, polyarylalkyl siloxanes, polyalkaryl siloxanes, polyether siloxane copolymers, and mixtures thereof. Other insoluble, nonvolatile silicone fluids having conditioning properties can also be used.
Silicone oils for use in the composition include polyalkyl or polyaryl siloxanes which conform to following formula:
where R is aliphatic, preferably alkyl or alkenyl, or aryl, R can be substituted or unsubstituted, and x is an integer from 1 to about 8,000. Suitable unsubstituted R groups include alkoxy, aryloxy, alkaryl, arylalkyl, alkamino, and ether-substituted, hydroxyl-substituted, and halogen-substituted aliphatic and aryl groups. Suitable R groups also include cationic amines and quatemary ammonium groups.
The aliphatic or aryl groups substituted on the siloxane chain may have any structure as long as the resulting silicones remain fluid at room temperature, are hydrophobic, are neither irritating, toxic nor otherwise harmful when applied to the hair, are compatible with the other components of the herein described hair care compositions, are chemically stable under normal use and storage conditions, are insoluble in the compositions of the present invention and are capable of conditioning the hair.
The two R groups on the silicon atom of each monomeric silicone unit may represent the same group or different groups. Preferably, the two R groups represent the same group.
Preferred alkyl and alkenyl substituents are C1-C5 alkyls and alkenyls, more preferably from C1-C4, most preferably from C1-C2. The aliphatic portions of other alkyl-, alkenyl-, or alkynyl-containing groups (such as alkoxy, alkaryl, and alkamino) can be straight or branched chains and preferably have from one to five carbon atoms, more preferably from one to four carbon atoms, even more preferably from one to three carbon atoms, most preferably from one to two carbon atoms. As discussed above, the R substituents hereof can also contain amino functionalities, e.g. alkamino groups, which can be primary, secondary or tertiary amines or quaternary ammonium. These include mono-, di- and tri-alkylamino and alkoxyamino groups wherein the aliphatic portion chain length is preferably as described above. The R substituents can also be substituted with other groups, such as halogens (e.g. chloride, fluoride, and bromide), halogenated aliphatic or aryl groups, and hydroxy (e.g. hydroxy substituted aliphatic groups). Suitable halogenated R groups could include, for example, tri-halogenated (preferably fluoro) alkyl groups such as xe2x80x94R1xe2x80x94C(F)3, wherein R1 is C1-C3 alkyl. Examples of such polysiloxanes include polymethyl-3,3,3 trifluoropropylsiloxane.
Suitable R groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl, methylphenyl and phenylmethyl. The preferred silicones are polydimethyl siloxane, polydiethylsiloxane, and polymethylphenylsiloxane. Polydimethylsiloxane is especially preferred. Other suitable R groups include methyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, and aryloxy. The three R groups on the end caps of the silicone may also represent the same or different groups.
The nonvolatile polyalkylsiloxane fluids that may be used include, for example, polydimethylsiloxanes. These siloxanes are available, for example, from the General Electric Company in their Viscasil R and SF 96 series, and from Dow Corning in their Dow Corning 200 series.
The polyalkylaryl siloxane fluids that may be used, also include, for example, polymethylphenylsiloxanes. These siloxanes are available, for example, from the General Electric Company as SF 1075 methyl phenyl fluid or from Dow Corning as 556 Cosmetic Grade Fluid.
The polyether siloxane copolymers that may be used include, for example, a polypropylene oxide modified polydimethylsiloxane (e.g., Dow Corning DC-1248) although ethylene oxide or mixtures of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide may also be used. For insoluble silicones the ethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide level must be sufficiently low to prevent solubility in water and the composition hereof.
Other suitable silicone fluids for use in the silicone conditioning agents are insoluble silicone gums. These gums are polyorganosiloxane materials having a viscosity at 25xc2x0 C. of greater than or equal to 1,000,000 centistokes. Silicone gums are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,416; Noll and Walter, Chemistry and Technology of Silicones, New York: Academic Press 1968; and in General Electric Silicone Rubber Product Data Sheets SE 30, SE 33, SE 54 and SE 76, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The silicone gums will typically have a mass molecular weight in excess of about 200,000, generally between about 200,000 and about 1,000,000, specific examples of which include polydimethylsiloxane, (polydimethylsiloxane) (methylvinylsiloxane) copolymer, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (diphenyl siloxane)(methylvinylsiloxane) copolymer and mixtures thereof.
The silicone conditioning agent can also comprise a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane gum (viscosity greater than about 1,000,000 centistokes) and polydimethylsiloxane oil (viscosity from about 10 to about 100,000 centistokes), wherein the ratio of gum to fluid is from about 30:70 to about 70:30, preferably from about 40:60 to about 60:40.
The number average particle size of the optional silicone component can vary widely without limitation and will depend on the formulation and/or the desired characteristics. Number average particle sizes preferred for use in the present invention will typically range from about 10 nanometres to about 100 microns, more preferably from about 30 nanometres to about 20 microns.
Background material on silicones including sections discussing silicone fluids, gums, and resins, as well as manufacture of silicones, can be found in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Engineering (Volume 15, Second Edition, pp. 204-308, John Wiley and Sons, Incorporated, 1989).
A preferred silicone conditioning agent from the viewpoint of improving shine is a silicone resin.
Sensates
The hair care compositions of the present invention may also comprise a sensate. As used herein the term xe2x80x9csensatexe2x80x9d means a substance that, when applied to the skin, causes a perceived sensation of a change in conditions, for example, but not limited to, heating, cooling, refreshing and the like.
Sensates are preferably utilized at levels of from about 0.001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.005% to about 5%, even more preferably from about 0.01% to about 1%, by weight, of the total composition.
Any sensate suitable for use in hair care compositions may be used herein. A non-limiting, exemplary list of suitable sensates can be found in GB-B-1315626, GB-B-1404596 and GB-B-1411785, all incorporated by reference herein. Preferred sensates for use in the compositions herein are camphor, menthol, l-isopulegol, ethyl menthane carboxamide and trimethyl isopropyl butanamide.
C1-C6 Aliphatic Alcohols
The compositions of the present invention may optionally comprise C1-C6, preferably C2-C3, more preferably C2, aliphatic alcohol. The aliphatic alcohol will generally comprise from about 1% to about 75%, preferably from about 10% to about 40%, more preferably from about 15% to about 30%, even more preferably from about 18% to about 26%, by weight, of the total composition.
Alkyl Ethoxylate
The compositions of the present invention can comprise an alkyl ethoxylate. Preferred alkyl ethoxylates for use herein have the formula:
Rxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94(C2H4O)nH,
wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, and more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R may be branched, linear, saturated, unsaturated, but is preferably linear and saturated, or unsaturated having about one double bond; n is from about 1 to about 10, preferably from about 2 to about 8, and more preferably from about 3 to about 6; the weight average molecular weight of the alkyl ethoxylate is preferably less than about 500 g/mol, more preferably from about 100 to about 500 g/mol, and even more preferably from about 200 to about 500 g/mol; and the HLB value of the alkyl ethoxylate is preferably from about 5 to about 12, more preferably from about 6 to about 11, and even more preferably from about 6 to about 10.
As may be seen from the HLB values, such alkyl ethoxylates are miscible in both oil and water. Furthermore, such alkyl ethoxylates typically have a melting point of less than about 30xc2x0 C., preferably less than about 25xc2x0 C., and more preferably less than about 20xc2x0 C., and have a cloud point (1% solution) of less than about 50xc2x0 C., preferably less than about 40xc2x0 C., and more preferably less than about 35xc2x0 C.
Highly preferred examples of the alkyl ethoxylate useful herein include, for example, oleth-5 [C18 (xe2x88x922H)EO5] (i.e., a C18 alkyl group having a single double bond and 5 ethoxylate groups), oleth-3 [C18(xe2x88x922H)EO3], steareth-5 (C18EO5), steareth-4 (C18EO4), ceteareth-5 (C16EO5), ceteareth4 (C16EO4), ceteareth-3 (C16EO3), mixtures of C9-11EO5, mixtures of C9-11EO2.5, mixtures of C12-13EO3, mixtures of C11-13EO5, and mixtures thereof. These alkyl ethoxylates are available from, for example, Croda Chemical Ltd., of Parsippany, N.J., U.S.A., Shell Chemical of U.S.A., BASF of Germany, Mitsubishi Chemical of Tokyo, Japan, and Nikko Chemical, of Tokyo, Japan. Such alkyl ethoxylates are especially preferred for use in rinse-off hair conditioning compositions.
The alkyl ethoxylate is preferably present in the composition herein at a level of from about 0.1% to about 20%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about 15%, and even more preferably from about 0.5% to about 10%, by weight of the hair care composition. If the hair care composition is a rinse-off hair conditioning composition, then the alkyl ethoxylate is preferably present at a level of at least about 1%, more preferably from about 2% to about 20%, and even more preferably from about 3%. to about 10%, by weight of the rinse-off hair conditioning composition.
If the hair care composition is intended for use as a rinse-off hair conditioning composition, it is highly preferred that the alkyl ethoxylate have a cloud point of less than about 40xc2x0 C. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that this significantly improves the deposition efficiency of the alkyl ethoxylate onto hair.
PolyproDylene Glycol
The compositions of the present invention can also comprise a polypropylene glycol. Preferably the polypropylene glycol is selected from a single-polypropylene glycol-chain segment polymer of Formula I, below, a multi-polypropylene glycol-chain segment polymer of Formula II, below, and mixtures thereof.
The polypropylene glycols useful herein are typically polydisperse polymers. Prefebably, the polypropylene glycols useful herein have a polydispersity of from about 1 to about 2.5, more preferably from about 1 to about 2, and even more preferably from about 1 to about 1.5. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cpolydispersityxe2x80x9d indicates the degree of the molecular weight distribution of the polymer sample. Specifically, the polydispersity is a ratio, greater than 1, equal to the weight average molecular weight divided by the number average molecular weight. For a further discussion about polydispersity, see xe2x80x9cPrinciples of Polymerization,xe2x80x9d pp. 20-24, G. Odian, (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 3rd ed., 1991).
If present, the polypropylene glycol typically comprises from about 0.5% to about 10%, and preferably from about 2% to about 6%, by weight, of the total composition.
Single-Polypropylene Glycol-Chain Segment Polymer
The single-polypropylene glycol-chain segment polymer useful herein has the formula:
HOxe2x80x94(C3H6O)aHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Formula I),
wherein a is a value from about 20 to about 100, and preferably from about 20 to about 40, and more preferably from about 20 to about 30. Although it is dependent upon the polydispersity of the actual single-polypropylene glycol-chain segment polymer preparation, such a preparation typically has a weight average molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 10,000 g/mol, preferably of from about 3,000 to about 8,000 g/mol.
In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the propylene repeating groups in the polypropylene glycol is an isopropyl oxide repeating group. More preferably, substantially all of the propylene oxide repeating groups of the polypropylene glycol of Formula I are isopropyl oxide repeating groups. Accordingly, a highly preferred single-polypropylene glycol-chain segment polymer has the formula:
wherein a is defined as described above for Formula I.
In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the propylene repeating groups in the polypropylene glycol is an isopropyl oxide repeating group. More preferably substantially all of the propylene oxide repeating groups of the polypropylene glycol of Formula II are isopropyl oxide repeating groups. Accordingly, a highly preferred multi-polypropylene glycol-chain segment polymer has the formula:
wherein n, R, b, c, d, e, x, y, and z are defined as above, for Formula III. It is recognized that the isopropyl oxide repeating groups may also correspond to:
either alone, or in combination with the isomer depicted in Formula IV.
Polyethylene Glycol Derivatives of Glycerides
Suitable polyethylene glycol derivatives of glycerides include any polyethylene glycol derivative of glycerides which are water-soluble and which are suitable for use in a hair care composition. Suitable polyethylene glycol derivatives of glycerides for use herein include derivatives of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides and mixtures thereof.
One class of polyethylene glycol derivatives of glycerides suitable herein are those which conform to the general formula (I):
wherein n, the degree of ethoxylation, is from about 4 to about 200, preferably from about 5 to about 150, more preferably from about 20 to about 120, and wherein R comprises an aliphatic radical having from about 5 to about 25 carbon atoms, preferably from about 7 to about 20 carbon atoms.
Suitable polyethylene glycol derivatives of glycerides can be polyethylene glycol derivatives of hydrogenated castor oil. For example, PEG-20 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-30 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG45 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-50 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-54 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-55 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-80 hydrogenated castor oil, and PEG-100 hydrogenated castor oil. Preferred for use in the compositions herein is PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil.
Other suitable polyethylene glycol derivatives of glycerides can be polyethylene glycol derivatives of stearic acid. For example, PEG-30 stearate, PEG-40 stearate, PEG-50 stearate, PEG-75 stearate, PEG-90 stearate, PEG-100 stearate, PEG-120 stearate, and PEG-150 stearate. Preferred for use in the compositions herein is PEG60 Hydrogenated castor oil.
Water
The compositions of the present invention will also generally contain water. When present water will generally comprise from about 25% to about 99%, preferably from about 50% to about 98%, more preferably from about 65% to about 95%, by weight, of the total composition.
The compositions herein can contain a variety of other optional components suitable for rendering such compositions more cosmetically or aesthetically acceptable or to provide them with additional usage benefits. Such conventional optional ingredients are well-known to those skilled in the art.
A wide variety of additional ingredients can be formulated into the present composition. These include: other hair conditioning ingredients such as panthenol, panthetine, pantotheine, panthenyl ethyl ether, and combinations thereof; other solvents such as hexylene glycol; hair-hold polymers such as those described in WO-A-94/08557, herein incorporated by reference; detersive surfactants such as anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic surfactants; additional viscosity modifiers and suspending agents such as xanthan gum, guar gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose, triethanolamine, methyl cellulose, starch and starch derivatives; viscosity modifiers such as methanolamides of long chain fatty acids such as cocomonoethanol amide; crystalline suspending agents; pearlescent aids such as ethylene glycol distearate; opacifiers such as polystyrene; preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, imidazolidinyl urea and the hydantoins; polyvinyl alcohol; ethyl alcohol; pH adjusting agents, such as lactic acid, citric acid, sodium citrate, succinic acid, phosphoric acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate; salts, in general, such as potassium acetate and sodium chloride; colouring agents, such as any of the FDandC or DandC dyes; hair oxidising (bleaching) agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, perborate and persulfate salts; hair reducing agents, such as the thioglycolates; perfumes; sequestering agents, such as tetrasodium ethylenediamine tetra-acetate; anti-dandruff agents such as zinc pyrithione (ZPT), sulfur, selenium sulfide, coal tar, piroctone olamine, ketoconazole, climbazole, salicylic acid; antioxidants/ultra violet filtering agents such as octyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and DL-alpha tocopherol acetate and polymer plasticizing agents, such as glycerine, diisobutyl adipate, butyl stearate, and propylene glycol. Such optional ingredients generally are used individually at levels from about 0.001% to about 10.0%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 5.0% by weight of the composition.
The hair care compositions of the present invention can be formulated in a wide variety of product forms, including but not limited to creams, gels, aerosol or non-aerosol foams, mousses and sprays. Mousses, foams and sprays can be formulated with propellants such as propane, butane, pentane, dimethylether, hydrofluorocarbon, CO2, N2O, or without specifically added propellants (using air as the propellant in a pump spray or pump foamer package).
The hair care compositions of the present invention may be used in a conventional manner for care of human hair. An effective amount of the composition, typically from about 1 gram to about 50 grams, preferably from about 1 gram to about 20 grams, is applied to the hair. Application of the composition typically includes working the composition through the hair, generally with the hands and fingers, or with a suitable implement such as a comb or brush, to ensure good coverage. The composition is then left on the hair, generally until the consumer next washes their hair.
The preferred method of treating the hair therefore comprises the steps of:
(a) applying an effective amount of the hair care composition to wet, damp or dry hair,
(b) working the hair care composition into the hair with hands and fingers or with a suitable implement.
The method can, optionally, comprise a further step of rinsing the hair with water.