Disclosed is a connector from a memory card in which the eject plate bears on the link arm at a first contact position during insertion. During ejectment a separate contact position is engaged. The distance between the first contact position used during insertion and the pivot point of the link arm is greater than the distance between the second contact position and the pivot point of the link arm by a factor of between 3:1 to 6:1. A significant mechanical advantage is therefore realized so that the card may be inserted with little resistance force while ample ejecting force is available.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and in particular to connectors for memory cards.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Memory cards and other card-like electronic media are conventionally ejected from computer systems by means of a mechanical linkage between an actuator bar which is connected to a link arm which moves a eject plate against the card. Such systems have disadvantages in that various users may exert inadequate force on the actuator bar to eject the card by a distance of about 4 mm at which it can be easily recovered manually. In any case, the amount of force applied will often vary from individual to individual so that the distance which the card is ejected beyond the frame may be expected to be generally disuniform. Further, such mechanical systems may result in a card being ejected while the computer system is still accessing it. Additionally, certain memory cards, may contain sensitive information, and such manual ejection systems provide little or no security for such cards.
There is therefore, a need for an eject system which is adapted to being activated by a computer system, or alternatively by manual control of an electrical current activated device. There is also a need for a system which maximizes the force available for ejection of the memory card and which at the same time permits easy insertion of the memory card. Further, there is a need for a system which is capable of providing security for the memory card.

Memory card connector having improved eject mechanism and method of use


A system and method for distribution of application program data to update a plurality of databases of dissimilar formats, including an application access program having a business object, a storage object and a data access object that is associated with a database. The business object creates data objects as needed and sends database access requests to the storage object. Each data access object registers with the storage object, and the storage object notifies each data access object when a data access request is received. The storage object then sends the data object to the data access objects. Data encapsulated in the data object is converted into a format for each database in which the data is to be stored. When a read request is received, data is read from a database that is designated as the primary database. When a write request is received, data is formatted into multiple formats and one format is written into each database.

The present invention relates in general to distributed data processing systems and more particularly to a system and method for distributing application data across distributed databases of dissimilar formats.
Many legacy enterprise applications store data in their own proprietary database formats. As the needs of business users have evolved, application software development has evolved accordingly, and one path of such evolution is the trend to move away from proprietary database architectures and towards standard relational or object-based database models.
In a relational database, data are stored in multi-dimensional tables. Each table has multiple rows and columns populated with information that describe the relationship between the data elements. Use of a relational database application, instead of a proprietary database, has the obvious advantage of opening the data to the vast array of relational database query and data manipulation tools that are pervasive among enterprise computing developers. It also allows the business user and the application itself to take advantage of the proven reliability of a commercial enterprise database engine. A relational database is not tied to a specific record and file format; customers"" writing tools that interface with the database will be significantly less impacted when changes and additions are made to the database by the application developers.
Many existing software applications still work with data in their own proprietary format, thus making that data inaccessible for the vast majority of new software tools. Furthermore, many users are reluctant to replace their legacy software, because they have invested heavily in the existing software application and related tools. Users are also concerned with an abrupt transition from a legacy database that has been functioning without problem to a brand new system that may present some unforseen problems. Consequently, software developers are forced to continue support of these legacy database systems that are no longer efficient or flexible.
In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method that enable multiple database models to be supported by a given software application simultaneously.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for preparing a legacy database system for migration to a new software application database system of dissimilar format.
The foregoing objectives are achieved by a distributed architecture defined by a storage subsystem that receives, from a business object, data objects encapsulating the data to be stored. The storage subsystem is responsible for distributing the data objects to converters that reform the data into the format necessary for the data object""s attributes to be stored in a database of a given type.
Business objects represent a software application that needs to view or manipulate data stored in the software application""s database. Business objects create data objects via a factory object. Factory objects are abstract factories that produce data objects of different types. Data objects represent some logical grouping of information that is applicable to an application. For instance, a data object representing a person for an address book application could contain all relevant information about that person that the address book tracks. Storage objects present the interface to software applications or business objects. Data access objects, or converters, have the responsibility of converting data of a data object into a different format that can be used to store the data object""s encapsulated information into a database. Database interface objects receive data from the data access objects and store that data into physical databases.
Business objects have methods defined to interface software applications. When a software application is ready to write data into a database, the business object requests creation of a data object from a factory object. The data object is created and the business object then populates the data object with information from the software application. After the data object is filled with information, the business object requests the storage object to store the information in this data object into a plurality of external databases and passes this data object to the storage object. The storage object notifies local and remote data access objects about the data, and these data access objects then store the data object into their respective databases through a database interface. The data can be stored in different formats into different databases.
This system provides a path of smooth migration between two database models, and can support a greater number of database models. Databases of different formats can exist and be updated in parallel, giving users the flexibility to access the data as they see fit. Users can then migrate from a proprietary format to an industry standard format as their needs and schedules permit. The system also helps to free the development team from legacy database format restriction and allows the database to evolve as new features and functionalities are added. The legacy database could retain its current structure while features are added to the new relational database. This would allow the users to use the new features of the relational database without compromising their existing tools.

Method and system for distribution of application data to distributed databases of dissimilar formats

International Business Machines Corporation


An antiglare film includes an antiglare layer having a binder matrix, and particles A and particles B therein on a transparent substrate. A difference in density between the particles A and particles B is 0.2 g/cm3 or less. The quotient value (RA/H), which is obtained by division of the average diameter of the particles A (RA) by the average thickness of the antiglare layer (H), is in the 0.40-0.80 range. The quotient value (RB/RA), which is obtained by division of the average diameter of the particles B (RB) by the average diameter of the particles A (RA), is in the 0.20-0.60 range. The quotient value ((wA+wB)/wM), which is obtained by dividing the sum of the content of the particles A (wA) and that of the particles B (wB) in the antiglare layer (wA+wB) by the content of the binder matrix in the antiglare layer (wM), is in the 0.10-0.40 range. The quotient value (wB/wA), which is obtained by division of the content of the particles B (wB) by that of the particles A (wA) in the antiglare layer, is in the 0.50-1.50 range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antiglare (AG) film that is provided on the surface of a window, a display, and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to an antiglare film that is provided on the surface of a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT display, an organic electroluminescence display (ELD), a plasma display (PDP), a surface electric field display (SED), and a field emission display (FED).
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of displays such as LCD, CRT displays, ELD, and PDP, providing on the display surface an antiglare film having a concave-convex structure on the surface is known as means for preventing the degradation of visibility caused by reflection of external light on the display surface during viewing.
The following methods are known for producing such antiglare films:                a method of forming a concave-convex structure on an antiglare film surface by emboss processing;        a method of coating a coating liquid obtained by admixing particles to a binder matrix forming material and dispersing the particles in the binder matrix, thereby forming a concave-convex structure on an antiglare film surface.
In an antiglare film having on the surface thereof a concave-convex structure formed by the above-described methods, the external light falling on the antiglare film is scattered by the concave-convex structure of the surface. As a result, the image of external light becomes smudgy and the degradation of visibility caused by the reflection of external light on the display surface can be prevented.
In the antiglare film in which convexities and concavities have been formed on the surface by emboss processing, surface convexities and concavities can be completely controlled. As a result, reproducibility is good. However, the problem is that where defects or foreign matter are present on the emboss roll, the defects spaced by a roll pitch appear on the film.
On the other hand, an antiglare film using a binder matrix and particles can be produced by using fewer operations than the antiglare film employing the emboss processing. As a result, the antiglare film can be manufactured at a low cost. Accordingly, antiglare films of a variety of forms in which particles are dispersed in a binder matrix are known (Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A-6-18706) No. 6-18706).
Various techniques have been disclosed with respect to antiglare films using a binder matrix and particles. For example, the following methods for producing antiglare films using a binder matrix and particles have been disclosed:                a method using a binder matrix resin, spherical particles, and particles of irregular shape (JP-A-2003-260748);        a method using a binder matrix resin and particles of a plurality of different diameters (JP-A-2004-004777);        a method of using a film having surface convexities and concavities in which the cross-sectional area of convexities is specified (JP-A-2003-004903).
The following methods have also been disclosed:                a method of using internal scattering in combination with external scattering and setting an internal haze of an antiglare film to 1-15% and a surface haze to 7-30% (JP-A-11-305010);        a method of using a binder resin and particles with a size of 0.5-5 μm and setting the difference in refractive index between the resin and the particles to 0.02-0.2 (JP-A-11-326608);        a method of using a binder resin and particles with a size of 1-5 μm and setting the difference in refractive index between the resin and the particles to 0.05-0.15, and a method in which the properties of the solvent used and the surface roughness are set within the predetermined ranges (JP-A-2000-338310);        a method of using a binder resin and a plurality of particles and setting the difference in refractive index between the resin and the particles to 0.03-0.2 (JP-A-2000-180611);        a method of setting a surface haze to 3 or more and setting the difference between a haze value in the normal direction and a haze value in the direction at ±60° to 4 or less with the object of reducing the variations in hue and the decrease in contrast occurring when the viewing angle changes (JP-A-11-160505).
Thus, antiglare films of various configurations created to attain a variety of purposes have been disclosed.
The properties of antiglare films used for the front surface of displays vary depending on the display type. In other words, the optimum antiglare film depends on the display resolution or purpose of use. Therefore, a large number of different types of antiglare film are required according to the application of the display.
Recently, antiglare films which are free from non-uniformity such as uneven appearance tend to be desired. Especially as many large type displays have been developed, this tendency has become more significant. In the antiglare film of the present invention, it is preferred that (1) there is no in-plane non-uniformity such as uneven appearance; (2) an image of an external light which reflects on the surface of the antiglare layer's side becomes smudgy due to excellent antiglare properties; (3) a "white-blurring" phenomenon hardly occurs even when illumination such as from a fluorescent lamp falls on the surface of the antiglare layer's side; and (4) the surface of the antiglare layer's side has a high Abrasion resistance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an antiglare film which satisfies all of the properties (1)-(4) stated above.

Antiglare film having first and second particles with different average diameters


A lamp socket assembly of the type having an insulative husk. A cap is affixed to the top of the insulative husk and the cap has a groove that matches with a bump on the cover member so that the cap and the cover member do not turn with respect to one another. In this way a light bulb may be tightened without turning the husk within the cover member.

The field of the invention is lamp socket assemblies and the invention relates more particularly to socket assemblies which have a cup or cover which extends downwardly over the socket or over the socket and bulb.
A problem exists for lamp assemblies where a heat lamp is pointed downwardly, for instance as in a restaurant to keep food warm. Because the heat lamp gets very hot and of course, cools off when it is turned off, the socket assembly is subjected to continuous heating and cooling which often results in a loosening of the assembly stem which is screwed into the cap of the light socket fixture. While this unscrewing is prevented in most lamp assemblies by a set screw which is tightened against the threads of the stem, a set screw is not available in many locations where a cup or reflective shield covers the set screw. What occasionally happens is that the continued heating and cooling of the socket causes the stem to become completely unscrewed from the cap and the lamp bulb is supported only by the electrical leads. Then when someone tries to tighten the bulb, a highly unsafe condition occurs.


A vapor collection method and apparatus capable of capturing vapor compositions without substantial dilution. The method and apparatus utilize a material that has a surface with an adjacent gas phase. A chamber is positioned in close proximity to a surface of the material. The position of the chamber creates a relatively small gap between the surface of the material and the chamber. The adjacent gas phase between the chamber and the surface define a region possessing an amount of mass. At least a portion of the mass is drawn through the region by induced flow. The utilization of a small gap limits the flow of mass that is external to the chamber from being swept through the chamber by induced flow.

Background of the Invention
Conventional practices for the removal and recovery of components during drying of coated materials generally utilize drying units or ovens. Collection hoods or ports are utilized in both closed and open drying systems to collect the solvent vapors emitted from the substrate or material. Conventional open vapor collection systems generally utilize air handling systems that are incapable of selectively drawing only the desired gas phase components without drawing the ambient atmosphere. Closed vapor collection systems typically introduce an inert gas circulation system to assist in purging the enclosed volume. In either system, the introduction of ambient air or inert gas dilutes the concentration of the gas phase components. Thus the subsequent separation of vapors from the diluted vapor stream can be difficult and inefficient.
Additionally, the thermodynamics associated with the conventional vapor collection systems often permit the undesirable condensation of the vapor at or near the substrate or material. The condensate can then fall onto the substrate or material and adversely affect either the appearance or functional aspects of the material. In industrial settings, the ambient conditions surrounding the process and processing equipment may include extraneous matter. In large volume drying units, the extraneous matter may be drawn into the collection system by the large volumetric flows of the conventional drying systems.
It would be desirable to collect gas phase components without substantially diluting the gas phase components with ambient air or inert gases. Additionally, it would be an advantage to collect gas phase components at relatively low volumetric flows in an industrial setting in order to prevent the entrainment of extraneous matter.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting and capturing gas phase components without substantial dilution. The method and apparatus utilize a chamber in close proximity to the surface of a substrate to enable collection of gas phase components near the surface of the substrate.
In the method of the present invention, at least one material is provided that has at least one major surface with an adjacent gas phase. A chamber is then positioned in close proximity to the surface of the material to define a gap between the chamber and the material. The gap is preferably no greater than 3 cm. The adjacent gas phase between the chamber and the surface and the material defines a region possessing an amount of mass. At least a portion of the mass from the adjacent gas phase is transported through the chamber by inducing a flow through the region. The flow of the gas phase is represented by the equation:
M1+M2+M3=M4xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Equation I)
wherein M1 is the total net time-average mass flow per unit width through the gap into the region and through the chamber resulting from pressure gradients, M2 is the time-average mass flow per unit width from the at least one major surface of the material into said region and through the chamber, M3 is the total net time-average mass flow per unit width through the gap into the region and through the chamber resulting from motion of the material, M4 is the time-average rate of mass transported per unit width through the chamber. For purposes of the invention the dimensions defining the width is the length of the gap in the direction perpendicular to the motion of the material and in the plane of the material.
The present method and apparatus is designed to substantially reduce the amount of dilution gas transported through the chamber. The use of a chamber in close proximity of the surface of the material and small negative pressure gradients enables the substantial reduction of dilution gas, namely M1. The pressure gradient, xcex94p, is defined as the difference between the pressure at the chambers lower periphery, pc, and the pressure outside the chamber, po, wherein xcex94p=pc-po. The value of M1 is generally greater than zero but not greater than 0.25 kg/second/meter. Preferably, M1 is greater than zero but not greater than 0.1 kg/second/meter, and most preferably, greater than zero but not greater than 0.01 kg/second/meter.
In an alternative expression, the average velocity resulting from M1 may be utilized to express the flow of dilution gas phase components entering the chamber. The use of a chamber in close proximity of the surface of the material, and small negative pressure gradients, enables the substantial reduction of the average total net gas phase velocity,  less than v greater than , through the gap. For the present invention, the value of  less than v greater than  is generally greater than zero but not greater than 0.5 meters/second.
The present method attempts to significantly reduce dilution of the gas phase component in the adjacent gas phase by substantially reducing M1 in Equation I. M1 represents the total net gas phase dilution flow into the region caused by a pressure gradient. The dilution of the mass in the adjacent gas phase may adversely affect the efficiency of gas phase collection systems and subsequent separation practices. For the present method, M1 is greater than zero but no greater than 0.25 kg/second/meter. Additionally, due to the relatively small gap between the chamber and the surface of the material, the volumetric flow rate of gas phase components through the gap caused by induced flow is generally no greater than 0.5 meters/second.
The method is well suited for applications requiring the desired collection of vaporous components in an efficient manner. Organic and inorganic solvents are examples of components that are often utilized as carriers to permit the deposition of a desired composition onto a substrate or material. The components are generally removed from the substrate or material by supplying a sufficient amount of energy to permit the vaporization of the solvent. It is desirable, and often necessary for health, safety, and environmental reasons, to recover the vaporous components after they have been removed from the substrate or material. The present invention is capable of collecting and transporting vapor components without introducing a substantial volume of a dilution stream.
In a preferred embodiment, the method of the present invention includes the use of material that contains at least one evaporative component. The chamber is positioned in close proximity to a surface of the material. Energy is then directed at the material to vaporize the at least one evaporative component to form a vapor component. At least a portion of the vapor component is captured in the chamber. The vapor component is generally captured at a high concentration that allows subsequent processing, such as separation, to become more efficient.
The apparatus of the present invention includes a support mechanism for supporting material. The material has at least one major surface with an adjacent gas phase. A chamber is placed in close proximity to a surface of the material to define a gap between the surface and the collection chamber. The adjacent gas phase between the chamber and the material defines a region containing an amount of mass. A mechanism in communication with the chamber induces the transport of at least a portion of the mass in the adjacent gas phase through the region. The transport of mass through the region into the chamber is represented by Equation I. The vapor in the chamber may optionally be conveyed to a separating mechanism for additional processing.
The method and apparatus of the present invention are preferably suited for use in transporting and collecting solvents from a moving web. In operation, the chamber is placed above the continuously moving web to collect vapors at a high concentration. The low volumetric flows and high concentrations of the vapor improve the efficiency of the solvent recovery and substantially eliminate contamination problems associated with conventional component collection devices.
The method and apparatus of the present invention are preferably used in combination with conventional gap drying systems. Gap drying systems generally convey a material through a narrow gap between hot plate and a condensing plate for the evaporation and subsequent condensation of evaporative components in the material. The configuration of the present apparatus, in various locations of a gap drying system, enables further capture of gas phase components which generally can be present in the adjacent gas phase on the surface of the material either prior to entering, or exiting a gap drying unit.
For purposes of the present invention, the following terms used in this application are defined as follows:
xe2x80x9ctime-average mass flowxe2x80x9d is represented by the equation,       MI    =                  1        t                                    ∫          0          t                                  m                                xe2x80x83                              i                                xe2x80x83                                          ⅆ            t                                ,
wherein M1 is the time-average mass flow in kg/second, t is time in seconds, and mi is the instantaneous mass flow in kg/second;
xe2x80x9cpressure gradientxe2x80x9d means a pressure differential between the chamber and the external environment; and
xe2x80x9cinduced flowxe2x80x9d means a flow generally created by a pressure gradient.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof, and from the claims.


A cathode ray tube includes a rectangular panel on which a phosphor screen is formed, a neck in which an electron gun assembly for emitting three electron beams is disposed, and a funnel formed contiguous to both the neck and the panel, and having a deflection yoke mounting portion on which a deflection yoke is mounted. The cross section of the deflection yoke mounting portion fulfills the following condition at the panel side end of the deflection yoke mounting portion. EQU 1.0.ltoreq.rh/rv.ltoreq.1.3. where rh is a diameter of the funnel directed to a direction of a long axis of the panel, and rv is a diameter of the funnel directed to a direction of a short axis of the panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cathode ray tube (CRT) and more particularly, to a cathode ray tube capable of reducing the deflection power consumption.
2. Description of the Related Art
A CRT is a device for displaying image on a screen by vertically and horizontally deflecting electron beams generated from an electron gun and landing the deflected electron beams onto the phosphor layers formed on the screen. The deflection of the electron beam is controlled by a deflection yoke, which is mounted on the exterior surface of the funnel of the CRT, and forms vertical and horizontal magnetic fields. The CRTs are generally employed for color televisions (TVs), monitors and high definition televisions(HDTVs). With increasing use of the CRTs, there is a need for reducing the length of the CRT to increase the brightness of the displayed image and to reduce the size of the final products, such as TVs, monitors and HDTVs.
When reducing the length of the CRT, the electron beams should be deflected with wide-angles, and the deflection frequency and current supplied to the deflection yoke should be increased for the wide-angle deflections of the electron beams. As the deflection frequency and current increase, the deflection magnetic field tends to leak to the outside of the cathode ray tube and the power consumption increases.
In order to decrease deflection power and magnetic field leakage at the same time, it is conventionally preferable to decrease the neck diameter of the cathode ray tube and the outer diameter of the funnel near the neck on which the deflection yoke is mounted, so that the deflection field efficiently acts on the electron beams. However, when the neck diameter is simply decreased, there are some disadvantages including deterioration of the image resolution due to the reduced diameter of the electron gun, and likely bombardment of the inner wall of the funnel by the outer electron beams, resulting in the electron beams not properly landing on the phosphor layer of the screen.
In order to solve these problems, U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,129 discloses a funnel having a wider peripheral portion sealed to the periphery of the panel, and a deflection portion whose cross-sectional configuration gradually varies from a rectangular shape substantially similar to that of the rectangular image produced on the panel to a circular shape. Thereby, the vertical and horizontal coils of the deflection yoke are closely located to the passage of the electron beams, and deflect the electron beams with reduced deflection power and without bombarding the electron beams to the inner wall of the funnel. However, the funnel does not have enough strength to endure against external stress, such as pressure, thus the funnel has to be designed to have a circular or round cross section.
Meanwhile Japanese Laid Open Patent 9-306388 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,995 discloses a funnel, whose cross section of the exterior surface near the neck changes from a circular shape to a non-circular shape with a maximum diameter along a direction (diagonal direction) other than the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. In addition, the funnel is designed to meet the following condition. EQU 0.3<.DELTA.HV/L.ltoreq.0.6
where L is the length of the maximum diameter, and .DELTA.HV is the sum of .DELTA.H and .DELTA.V, and .DELTA.H is a difference between L and the horizontal diameter of the cross-section of the funnel, and .DELTA.V is the difference between L and the vertical diameter of the cross-section of the funnel. However, the funnel is defined or configured by three variables, .DELTA.H, .DELTA.V and L. Thus, for example, even though .DELTA.H is set to a fixed value, two variables are not fixed or defined. As a result, it is difficult to design a funnel having the optimum configuration and enough strength against external stress. PA1 where SA is the vertical diameter of the external surface of the funnel, and LA is the horizontal diameter of the external surface of the funnel, and DA is the maximum diameter of the external surface of the funnel. Thus, the funnel is also defined by three variables, SA, LA and DA, and it is also difficult to design a funnel having the optimum configuration and enough strength against external stress. PA1 where rh is the diameter of the funnel in the direction of the long axis of the panel, and rv is the diameter of the funnel in the direction of the short axis of the panel.
Meanwhile, Japanese Laid Open Patent 10-149785 discloses a funnel whose cross section of the exterior surface is a non-circular shape with a maximum diameter along a direction (diagonal direction) other than the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. In addition, when the aspect ratio of the screen is M:N, the cross section of the funnel is designed to meet the following condition. EQU (M+N)/(2(M.sup.2 +N.sup.2)1/2)<(SA+LA)/(2DA).ltoreq.0.86


A color material dispersion liquid comprising: (A) a color material, (B) a dispersant and (C) a solvent, wherein the color material (A) contains a lake color material of a combination of an acid dye and a polyaluminum chloride; a basicity of the polyaluminum chloride is 70% or more; and a value of a ratio (I4/I6) between an integral value (I4) of a peak corresponding to a four-coordinate aluminum in a solid-state 27Al-NMR spectrum of the lake color material and an integral value (I6) a peak corresponding to a six-coordinate aluminum therein, is from 0 to 0.50.

Many thin image display devices as typified by displays, i.e., flat panel displays, have been released on the market, because they are thinner than cathode-ray tube displays and they do not occupy much space in depth. Their market price has decreased year by year with advances in production techniques, resulting in a further increase in demand and a yearly increase in production. Especially, color LCD TVs have almost become the mainstream of TVs. Also in recent years, light-emitting display devices including organic light-emitting display devices such as organic EL displays, which provide high visibility by light emitted by themselves, have received attention as the next generation of image display devices. In relation to the performance of these image display devices, there is a strong demand for a further increase in image quality, such as an increase in contrast and color reproducibility, and a decrease in power consumption.
A color filter is used in these liquid crystal display devices and light-emitting display devices. For example, in the case of color LCDs, the amount of light is controlled by using a backlight as the light source and electrically driving the liquid crystal. The light passes through the color filter and represents colors. Accordingly, the color filter is indispensable for color representation in LCD TVs and plays a large role in determining display performance. In organic light-emitting display devices, a color image is formed in the same manner as liquid crystal display devices, when the color filter is used in combination with an organic, white light-emitting element.
A recent trend is that there is a demand for power-saving image display devices. To increase backlight use efficiency, there is a very high demand for high-luminance color filters. This is a major issue especially for mobile displays such as mobile phones, smart phones and tablet PCs.
Even though technological advances have increased battery capacity, there is still a limit on battery capacity of mobile devices. Meanwhile, there is a trend that power consumption has grown with the increase in screen size. Image display devices including a color filter determine the design and performance of mobile terminal devices, because they are directly linked to the usable time and charging frequency of mobile terminal devices.
In general, a color filter includes a transparent substrate, color layers made of color patterns of the three primary colors (red, green and blue), and a light shielding part formed on the transparent substrate so as to define each color pattern.
To form such color layers, a pigment dispersion method in which pigments with excellent heat resistance and light resistance are used as color materials, has been widely used. However, it is difficult for color filters produced by use of pigments to satisfy the latest demand for higher luminance.
As a means to achieve higher luminance, dye-containing color resin compositions for a color filter have been studied. In general, dyes have a higher transmittance and can produce a higher-luminance color filter than pigments. However, dyes have a problem in that they are inferior in heat resistance and light resistance to pigments and the chromaticity is likely to change when they are heated at high temperature in a color filter production process, for example. Also, color resin compositions containing dyes have a problem in that cured coating films of the resin compositions are poor in solvent resistance, and the dyes transfer to adjacent pixels in other colors or to cured films that do not contain colorants (e.g., protective films). In addition, color resin compositions produced by use of dissolved dyes have many problems when they are used for color filter application. For example, aggregates are likely to precipitate on the surface of a cured coating film during a drying process, and a remarkable decrease in contrast is caused by the fluorescence of the dyes.
As a method for improving various kinds of resistance properties of dyes, a method for producing a salt-forming dye is known.
In Patent Document 1, a color photosensitive composition containing a dyed lake pigment is disclosed as a color photosensitive composition with excellent heat resistance, light resistance, color characteristics and transparency. Also, as the examples of the dyed lake pigment, publicly-known pigments with color index numbers are described.
However, in the dyed lake pigment disclosed in Patent Document 1, the ratio of the dye is small. Therefore, the dyed lake pigment is insufficient in coloring power, and a color layer using such a dyed lake pigment is insufficient in heat resistance and light resistance.
In Patent Document 2, an acidic dye aluminum lake pigment crystal is disclosed as a pigment with high coloring power and excellent light resistance, which is aimed at increasing the dye ratio in the pigment. However, due to large growth of the crystal particle diameter of the acidic dye aluminum lake pigment crystal of Patent Document 2, the pigment is poor in dispersibility, and it is difficult to obtain high contrast required of a color filter.
In Patent Document 3, a blue color composition for a color filter, the composition containing a colorant consisting of a copper phthalocyanine blue pigment and a metal lake pigment of a xanthene-based dye, is disclosed as a blue color composition for a color filter, the composition being capable of forming a color filter with high luminosity and a wide color reproduction range. In Patent Document 4, a blue color composition for a color filter, the composition containing a blue pigment and a salt-forming compound obtained by reaction of a xanthene-based acid dye and a compound containing a cationic group, is disclosed as a blue color composition for a color filter, the composition being capable of forming a color filter with high luminosity and a wide color reproduction range. However, an organic compound containing a quaternary ammonium salt group is merely disclosed as the compound containing the cationic group. The salt-forming compound obtained by use of the organic compound containing the quaternary ammonium salt group, has the following problems: a cured coating film of the composition is poor in solvent resistance; a sublimate is produced; and a decrease in contrast is caused by fluorescence.
In Patent Document 5, a color filter and so on are disclosed by the applicant of the present application, which use specific color materials containing divalent or higher anions and divalent or higher cations, in which dye skeletons are crosslinked by crosslinking groups. It is disclosed that the color materials are excellent in heat resistance since, due to containing the divalent or higher anions and the divalent or higher cations, molecular associations are formed therein, and color filters using the color materials are high in contrast and excellent in solvent resistance and electric reliability.

Color material dispersion liquid, color resin composition, color material, color filter, method for producing color filter, liquid crystal display device, and light-emitting display device


The invention provides a solid preparation having a quick and pH-independent dissolution with an excellent bioavailability for a drug that is otherwise sharply depressed in solubility with pH elevation. This solid preparation contains granules each comprising a fine particulate core coated with a solid solution comprising a drug which is pH-dependent in solubility and may be released from an enteric base-containing composition at low pH and an enteric base.

A quick-dissolution solid preparation is designed to achieve a rapid rise in the blood concentration of a drug administered orally in expectation of the immediate action of the drug. Therefore, in designing a quick-dissolution solid preparation, the disintegration of pharmaceutical per se, solubility and bioavailability of the drug are important considerations.
However, a drug which is sharply depressed in solubility with pH elevation is generally less efficiently absorbed in the stomach than in the intestinal tract even if it is highly disintegrable and is soluble in the gastric juice and, therefore, has the disadvantage of low bioavailability. Another disadvantage of such a drug is that it can hardly exhibit its expected efficacy in patients with achlorhydria or gastric hypoacidity.
For the purpose of enhancing the solubility of a hardly soluble drug, it is known to disperse the drug in substantially amorphous state in an inert carrier such as polyvinylpyrrolidone to thereby provide a solid solution (also known as solid dispersion) [cf. Chiou. W. L., Riegelman, S: J. Pharm. Sci., 60, 1281 (1971) and JP-A-54-2316 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an unexamined published Japanese patent application)].
It is also known, for improving the absorption of nifedipine which is a hardly soluble drug, to coat fine beads of a water-soluble pharmaceutical additive substance with a solid solution consisting of nifedipine and polyvinylpyrrolidone (JP-A-57-85316).
It is also disclosed in JP-A-56-110612 that a preparation prepared by mixing a hardly soluble drug with a base, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, with or without addition of a surfactant or the like, granulating the resulting composition by the fluidized-bed granulating method, and compression-molding the resulting granules is excellent in disintegration, rate of absorption, and rapidity of dissolution. In this process, anhydrous calcium hydrogenphosphate, among others, is used as the core material for fluidized-bed granulation.
However, Yakugaku Zasshi 104(5), 485-489 (1984) reports that when the hardly soluble drug nifedipine is made into a solid solution using an enteric coating base such as hydroxypropylcellulose phthalate or methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymer and coating is carried out, the rate of dissolution in JP (Japanese Pharmacopoeia) Test Solution 1 is suppressed and it is, therefore, generally acknowledged that as long as an enteric base is employed, coating with a solid solution of a hardly soluble drug may not easily provide a quick-dissolution solid preparation.


The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a dual, or multilayer core component that is relatively soft and a hard cover that results in the golf ball exhibiting a reduced spin rate. The dual, or multilayer core component includes a center component and a core layer, each of which is independently formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or a blend thereof. The dual core component is relatively soft, having a Riehle compression of at least 75. The cover is preferably formed from a high acid ionomer or a certain type of alpha-olefin such that the cover has a Shore D hardness of at least 65. The cover may be a single layer cover or a multilayer cover. The golf ball of the present invention may have an enlarged diameter which serves to further reduce spin rate. The resulting golf ball exhibits properties of reduced spin without sacrificing durability, playability and resilience.

The present invention relates to golf balls and, more particularly, to improved golf balls having low spin rates. The improvement in the golf balls results from a unique dual, or multilayer core which is relatively soft and a hard cover made from blends of one or more specific hard, high stiffness ionomers. The combination of a soft dual or multilayer core and a hard cover leads to an improved golf ball having a lower than anticipated spin rate while maintaining the resilience and durability characteristics necessary for repetitive play. In an additional embodiment of the invention, the spin rate is further reduced by decreasing the weight of the softened dual or multilayer core while maintaining core size and by increasing the thickness or weight of the cover. The larger, less dense finished dual core or multilayer ball exhibits lower spin rates after club impact than conventional balls.
Spin rate is an important golf ball characteristic for both the skilled and unskilled golfer. High spin rates allow for the more skilled golfer, such as PGA professionals and low handicap players, to maximize control of the golf ball. This is particularly beneficial to the more skilled golfer when hitting an approach shot to a green. The ability to intentionally produce xe2x80x9cback spin,xe2x80x9d thereby stopping the ball quickly on the green, and/or xe2x80x9cside spinxe2x80x9d to draw or fade the ball, substantially improves the golfer""s control over the ball. Thus, the more skilled golfer generally prefers a golf ball exhibiting high spin rate properties.
However, a high spin golf ball is not desirous by all golfers, particularly high handicap players who cannot intentionally control the spin of the ball. In this regard, less skilled golfers, have, among others, two substantial obstacles to improving their game: slicing and hooking. When a club head meets a ball, an unintentional side spin is often imparted which sends the ball off its intended course. The side spin reduces one""s control over the ball as well as the distance the ball will travel. As a result, unwanted strokes are added to the game.
Consequently, while the more skilled golfer desires a high spin golf ball, a more efficient ball for the less skilled player is a golf ball that exhibits low spin properties. The low spin ball reduces slicing and hooking and enhances roll distance for the amateur golfer.
The present inventors have addressed the need for developing a golf ball having a reduced spin rate after club impact, while at the same time maintaining the durability, playability and resiliency characteristics needed for repetitive use. The reduced spin rate golf ball of the present invention meets the rules and regulations established by the United States Golf Association (xe2x80x9cU.S.G.A.xe2x80x9d).
Along these lines, the U.S.G.A. has set forth five (5) specific regulations to which a golf ball must conform. The U.S.G.A. rules require that a ball be no smaller than 1.680 inches in diameter. However, notwithstanding this restriction, there is no specific limitation as to the maximum permissible diameter of a golf ball. As a result, a golf ball can be as large as desired so long as it is larger than 1.680 inches in diameter and so long as the other four (4) specific regulations are met.
The U.S.G.A. rules also require that balls weigh no more than 1.620 ounces, and that their initial velocity may not exceed 250 feet per second with a maximum tolerance of 2%, or up to 255 ft./sec. Further, the U.S.G.A. rules state that a ball may not travel a distance greater than 280 yards with a test tolerance of 6% when hit by the U.S.G.A. outdoor driving machine under specific conditions.
It has been determined by the present inventors that the combination of a relatively soft dual or multilayer core (i.e. an overall core Riehle compression of about 75 to 160) and a hard cover (i.e. Shore D hardness of 65 or more) significantly reduces the overall spin rate of the resulting golf ball. The inventors have also learned that an increase in cover thickness, thereby increasing the overall diameter of the resulting molded golf ball, further reduces spin rate.
Top-grade golf balls sold in the United States may be generally classified as one of two types: two-piece or three-piece balls. The two-piece ball, exemplified by the balls sold by Spalding and Evenflo Companies, Inc. (the assignee of the present invention through its wholly owned subsidiary, Lisco, Inc.) under the trademark TOP-FLITE, consists of a solid polymeric core and a separately formed outer cover. The so-called three-piece balls, exemplified by the balls sold under the trademark TITLEIST by the Acushnet Company, consist of a liquid (e.g., TITLEIST TOUR 384) or solid (e.g., TITLEIST DT) center, elastomeric thread windings about the center, and a cover.
Spalding""s two-piece golf balls are produced by molding a natural (balata) or synthetic (i.e. thermoplastic resin such as an ionomer resin) polymeric cover composition around a preformed polybutadiene (rubber) core. During the molding process, the desired dimple pattern is molded into the cover material. In order to reduce the number of coating steps involved in the finishing of the golf balls, a color pigment or dye and, in many instances, an optical brightener, are added directly to the generally xe2x80x9coff whitexe2x80x9d colored polymeric cover composition prior to molding. By incorporating the pigment and/or optical brightener in the cover composition molded onto the golf ball core, this process eliminates the need for a supplemental pigmented painting step in order to produce a white or colored (notably orange, pink and yellow) golf ball.
With respect to multi-layered golf balls, Spalding is the leading manufacturer of two-piece golf balls in the world. Spalding manufactures over sixty (60) different types of two-piece balls which vary distinctly in such properties as playability (i.e. spin rate, compression, feel, etc.), travel distance (initial velocity, C.O.R., etc.), durability (impact, cut and weather resistance) and appearance (i.e. whiteness, reflectance, yellowness, etc.) depending upon the ball""s core, cover and coating materials, as well as the ball""s surface configuration (i.e. dimple pattern). Consequently, Spalding""s two-piece golf balls offer both the amateur and professional golfer a variety of performance characteristics to suit an individual""s game.
In regard to the specific components of a golf ball, although the nature of the cover can, in certain instances, make a significant contribution to the overall feel, spin (control), coefficient of restitution (xe2x80x9cC.O.R.xe2x80x9d) and initial velocity of a ball (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,768 to Molitor), the initial velocity of two-piece and three-piece balls is determined mainly by the coefficient of restitution of the core. The coefficient of restitution of the core of wound (i.e. three-piece) balls can be controlled within limits by regulating the winding tension and the thread and center composition. With respect to two-piece balls, the coefficient of restitution of the core is a function of the properties of the elastomer composition from which it is made.
The cover component of a golf ball is particularly influential in affecting the compression (feel), spin rates (control), distance (C.O.R.), and durability (i.e. impact and may be adjusted to optimize the desired properties of the resulting golf balls.
Over the last twenty (20) years, improvements in cover and core material formulations and changes in dimple patterns have more or less continually improved golf ball distance. Top-grade golf balls, however, must meet several other important design criteria. To successfully compete in today""s golf ball market, a golf ball should be resistant to cutting and must be finished well; it should hold a line in putting and should have good click and feel. In addition, the ball should exhibit spin and control properties dictated by the skill and experience of the end user.
With respect to the increased size of the ball, over the years golf ball manufacturers have generally produced golf balls at or around the minimum size and maximum weight specifications set forth by the U.S.G.A. There have, however, been exceptions, particularly in connection with the manufacture of golf balls for teaching aids. For example, oversized, overweight (and thus unauthorized) golf balls have been on sale for use as golf teaching aids (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,201,384 to Barber).
Oversized golf balls are also disclosed in New Zealand Patent No. 192,618 dated Jan. 1, 1980, issued to a predecessor of the present assignee. This patent teaches an oversize golf ball having a diameter between 1.700 and 1.730 inches and an oversized core of resilient material (i.e. about 1.585 to 1.595 inches in diameter) so as to increase the coefficient of restitution. Additionally, the patent discloses that the ball should include a cover having a thickness less than the cover thickness of conventional balls (i.e. a cover thickness of about 0.050 inches as opposed to 0.090 inches for conventional two-piece balls).
In addition, it is also noted that golf balls made by Spalding in 1915 were of a diameter ranging from 1.630 inches to 1.710 inches. As the diameter of the ball increased, the weight of the ball also increased. These balls were comprised of covers made up of balatalgutta percha and cores made from solid rubber or liquid sacs and wound with elastic thread.
Golf balls known as the LYNX JUMBO were also commercially available by Lynx in October, 1979. These balls had a diameter of 1.76 to 1.80 inches. The LYNX JUMBO balls met with little or no commercial success. The balls consisted of a core comprised of wound core and a cover comprised of natural or synthetic balata.
However, notwithstanding the enhanced diameters of these prior golf balls, none of these balls produced the enhanced spin reduction characteristics and overall playability, distance and durability properties of the present invention and/or fell within the regulations set forth by the U.S.G.A. An object of the present invention is to produce a U.S.G.A. regulation golf ball having improved low spin properties while maintaining the resilience and durability characteristics necessary for repetitive play.
As noted, a number of two-piece (a solid resilient center or core with a molded cover) and three-piece (a liquid or solid center, elastomeric winding about the center, and a molded cover) golf balls have been produced. The different types of materials utilized to formulate the cores, covers, etc. of these balls dramatically alters the balls"" overall characteristics. In addition, multi-layered covers containing one or more ionomer resins and other combinations of thermoplastic materials have also been formulated in an attempt to produce a golf ball having the overall distance, playability and durability characteristics desired.
Despite the great number of materials and combinations of materials utilized in prior art golf balls, there still remains a need for an improved golf ball exhibiting superior properties.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following summary and description of the invention and from the claims.
The present invention is directed to improved golf balls having a low rate of spin upon club impact. The golf balls comprise a dual, or multilayer core component that is preferably soft, and further comprise a relatively hard cover. The hard cover may preferably be sized to produce a ball that is larger than conventional diameters. The low spin rate enables the ball to travel a greater distance. In addition, the low spin rate provides the less skilled golfer with more control. This is because the low spin rate decreases undesirable side spin which leads to slicing and hooking. The combination of a hard cover and a soft core provides for a ball having a lower than anticipated spin rate while maintaining high resilience and good durability.
Through the use of the softer cores and the hard cover, overall finished balls of the invention exhibit significantly lower spin rates than conventional balls of equal size and weight. Further, reduction in spin is also produced by increasing the thickness of the cover and by decreasing the weight of the softened core.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a low spin golf ball is provided, comprising a dual or multilayer core having a center component and a core layer disposed about the center component. The dual core is relatively soft, having an overall core Riehle compression of at least about 75. The golf ball further comprises a relatively hard cover disposed about the dual core. The cover has a Shore D hardness of at least about 65.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a low spin golf ball comprising a dual core having a center component and a core layer disposed about the center component. The golf ball further comprises a multi-layer cover disposed about the dual core. The cover is relatively hard, having a Shore D hardness of at least about 65.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a low spin golf ball comprising a dual core having a center component that includes a thermoplastic material and a core layer that includes a thermoset material. The core has a Riehle compression of at least about 75. The golf ball further comprises a cover disposed around the dual core, the cover having a Shore D hardness of at least about 65.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a golf ball comprising a dual core having a center component that includes a thermoset material and a core layer comprising a thermoplastic material. The core has a Riehle compression of at least about 75. The golf ball further comprises a cover disposed about the dual core configuration. The cover is relatively hard, having a Shore D hardness of at least about 65.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a low spin golf ball comprising a dual core having a center component and a core layer disposed about the center component. The center component and the core layer both comprise a thermoplastic material. The core has a Riehle compression of at least about 75. The low spin golf ball further comprises a cover surrounding the dual core. The cover has a Shore D hardness of at least about 65.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a low spin golf ball comprising a dual core having a center component and a core layer disposed about the center component. The golf ball further comprises a cover disposed on the dual core, the cover comprising a particular high acid ionomer resin, and/or a certain alpha olefin.
In all aspects, the covers may be in the form of a multilayer cover described in greater detail herein.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should, however, be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Low spin golf ball having a dual core configuration


The present invention relates to a biostable polyurethane or polyurea comprising: (a) a soft segment comprising a polysiloxane of the general formula (I); and (b) greater than 0 and less than 40 wt % of a hard segment which is a reaction product of a diisocyanate and a linear difunctional chain extender, processes for their preparation and their use in the manufacture of biomaterials, devices, articles or implants.

The development of methodology to incorporate high silicone loadings in the soft segment of polyurethanes has resulted in the production of biostable polyurethanes (Elast-Eon™). The soft segment of these polyurethanes is based on 80 wt % of a hydroxyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and 20 wt % of a polyether polyol specifically polyhexamethylene oxide (PHMO).
It was thought that the presence of the polyether was necessary in order to act as a compatibiliser between thermodynamically diverse molecules of the isocyanate rich hard segment and the silicone rich soft segment. Polyurethanes with silicone contents higher than 80 wt % of the soft segment resulted in poorer mechanical properties which at that time seemed to corroborate the compatibiliser theory.
The technology of Elast-Eon production has more recently evolved leading to significant process breakthroughs that allow the incorporation of higher silicone content into the soft segment without a corresponding decrease in mechanical properties.
A considerable amount of work has also been done in understanding the biologically induced degradation mechanisms in polyurethanes. Oxidising radicals emanating from foreign body giant cells (FBGC) in the vicinity of the implant are seen to be the major source of degradation of polyurethane based medical devices. As a result, it has been shown that the presence of oxidisable groups in polyurethanes are the primary sites of the initiation of degradation. Therefore, a reduction in the content of groups prone to oxidation will lead to an increase in the biological stability of the polyurethanes. As a consequence, it is now desirable to have a soft segment which is based on PDMS instead of PDMS in combination with a polyether polyol.


Electrostatic powder coating apparatus comprising a spray module located within a bight of a conveyor having suspended from it a plurality of articles to be coated with powder prior to heat treatment to convert the powder into an adherent coat of paint or the like.. The spray module comprises a veined impeller able to rotate about a vertical axis and having charged powder projected towards its center from a stationary nozzle so that vanes on the impeller impart centrifugal force to the powder particles.. The impeller and nozzle assembly may be reciprocated vertically so that the sprayed powder traverses the length of the suspended and moving articles.

Electrostatic powder coating apparatus requires dry powder to be conveyed to a spray head in fluidized form, electrostatically charged and dispensed from the spray head towards the article. In known coating apparatus (powder spray guns) powder is fluidized in a container and conveyed to the spray head (gun) using compressed air. It is dispensed from the spray head by using a deflector, diffuser or other spray pattern shaper. The powder is charged electrostatically by either corona charging, using high tension pointed electrodes, or friction charging, alone or in combinations. The powder particles are carried to the articles under electrostatic field attraction, pneumatic force and their own momentum. The fine powder spray from the spray head, in a defined fan pattern in the plane of the article, coats the article surface. There are various limitations, like the Faraday cage effect from corona charging, chemical formulation of the powder for friction charging.
The powder application process can be manual or automatic, using mechanical means like reciprocators, depending on the size and number of articles to be coated in a stipulated period.
An alternative to pneumatic powder spraying uses an electrostatic fluidized bed, wherein articles are introduced into a fluidized powder bed, and coating is carried out under electrostatic field only (without the use of air to carry powder to the articles). This process can also be in manual or automated versions.
Both the known processes, spray gun using pneumatic pressure, and fluidized bed using pure electrostatic attraction, have their advantages and limitations. However, the pneumatic type is more versatile and is used far more than is the fluidized bed.
Pneumatic applicators normally have an optimum value of powder throughput of 200 gms/min. though its maximum output can be 500 gms/min. with low charging and transfer efficiency. To achieve coating on opposite sides, a minimum of two guns are required spraying from opposite ends. For jobs with four sides, sometimes four applicators are used with indexing. The automatic applicators are vertically reciprocated to cover the total height of the articles. The number of applicators to be used can be large in order to match the speed of article, travel time, and its height or configuration, as articles are facing applicators for very small amount of time. For small components pneumatic force dispensing of powder can cause strong oscillations as the articles are often of light weight.
In the case of fluidized bed coating, the Faraday cage effect is a major limitation for articles of complex shape. A further disadvantage is that the thickness of the coating, and therefore of the final film, varies to an unacceptable extent on articles above about 50 mm in height.

`Anand Tarang`, 17 Shivparvati Housing Society, Paud Road


Provided are compositions and methods for preparing and identifying antibodies having CDR3s that vary in sequence and in length from very short to very long which in certain embodiments may bind to a carbohydrate moiety or the active site of an enzyme. Libraries coding for antibodies with the CDR3s are also provided. The libraries can be provided by modifying a pre-existing nucleic acid library.

It is now common practice in the art to prepare libraries of genetic packages that individually display, display and express, or comprise a member of a diverse family of peptides, polypeptides or proteins and collectively display, display and express, or comprise at least a portion of the amino acid diversity of the family. In many common libraries, the peptides, polypeptides or proteins are related to antibodies (e.g., single chain Fv (scFv), Fv, Fab, whole antibodies or minibodies (i.e., dimers that consist of VH linked to VL)). Often, they comprise one or more of the CDRs and framework regions of the heavy and light chains of human antibodies.
Peptide, polypeptide or protein libraries have been produced in several ways. See, e.g., Knappik et al., J. Mol. Biol., 296, pp. 57-86 (2000), which is incorporated herein by reference. One method is to capture the diversity of native donors, either naive or immunized. Another way is to generate libraries having synthetic diversity. A third method is a combination of the first two. Typically, the diversity produced by these methods is limited to sequence diversity, i.e., each member of the library has the same length but differs from the other members of the family by having different amino acids or variegation at a given position in the peptide, polypeptide or protein chain. Naturally diverse peptides, polypeptides or proteins, however, are not limited to diversity only in their amino acid sequences. For example, human antibodies are not limited to sequence diversity in their amino acids, they are also diverse in the lengths of their amino acid chains.
For antibodies, diversity in length occurs, for example, during variable region rearrangements. See e.g., Corbett et al., J. Mol. Biol., 270, pp. 587-97 (1997). The joining of V genes to J genes, for example, results in the inclusion of a recognizable D segment in CDR3 in about half of the heavy chain antibody sequences, thus creating regions encoding varying lengths of amino acids. D segments are more common in antibodies having long HC CDR3s. The following also may occur during joining of antibody gene segments: (i) the end of the V gene may have zero to several bases deleted or changed; (ii) the end of the D segment may have zero to many bases removed or changed; (iii) a number of random bases may be inserted between V and D or between D and J; and (iv) the 5′ end of J may be edited to remove or to change several bases. These rearrangements result in antibodies that are diverse both in amino acid sequence and in length.
Libraries that contain only amino acid sequence diversity are, thus, disadvantaged in that they do not reflect the natural diversity of the peptide, polypeptide or protein that the library is intended to mimic. Further, diversity in length may be important to the ultimate functioning of the protein, peptide or polypeptide. For example, with regard to a library comprising antibody regions, many of the peptides, polypeptides, proteins displayed, displayed and expressed, or comprised by the genetic packages of the library may not fold properly or their binding to an antigen may be disadvantaged, if diversity both in sequence and length are not represented in the library.
An additional disadvantage of such libraries of genetic packages that display, display and express, or comprise peptides, polypeptides and proteins is that they are not focused on those members that are based on natural occurring diversity and thus on members that are most likely to be functional and least likely to be immunogenic. Rather, the libraries, typically, attempt to include as much diversity or variegation as possible at every amino acid residue. This makes library construction time-consuming and less efficient than necessary. The large number of members that are produced by trying to capture complete diversity also makes screening more cumbersome than it needs to be. This is particularly true given that many members of the library will not be functional.
In addition to the labor of constructing synthetic libraries is the question of immunogenicity. For example, there are libraries in which all CDR residues are either Tyr (Y) or Ser (S). Although antibodies (Abs) selected from these libraries show high affinity and specificity, their very unusual composition may make them immunogenic. The present invention is directed toward making Abs that could well have come from the human immune system and so are less likely to be immunogenic. The libraries of the present invention retain as many residues from V-D-J or V-J fusions as possible.

Libraries of genetic packages comprising novel HC CDR3 designs


The present invention refers to a device and a method for subcutaneous detachment of the face, the leg, the thigh, the breast, the abdomen and the forehead, facilitating the full detachment of the skin from the underlying (adipose) tissue with substantial reduction in bleeding, better skin cutting quality, lesser amount of post-op edema, decreased surgery time, minimization of ecchymoses, prophylaxis of facial nerve injuries, and above all, minimized formation of post-op hematomas.

The techniques existing to date for performance of cutaneous detachment for plastic surgery of the face use mostly scissors and/or scalpel, and in some cases, cannulas (material used for liposuction—thin cannula) in order to initially facilitate the displacement whereupon the procedure is continued using the scissors.
In the case of the scalpel and/or scissors there occurs a great amount of bleeding, and there is needed exhaustive cauterization of the detached area. In the case of the cannula there also occurs a significant amount of bleeding, requiring meticulous cauterization along the entire detached area, in addition to the risk imposed by the cannula, which due to being hollow, withdraws fat from the subcutaneous tissue of the face, and might cause the creation of depressed regions.
These existing processes for detachment of the facial skin during facelift surgery always entail the following risks: 1) hemorrhages during the surgical procedure, 2) formation of hematoma upon cutaneous closure, with the patient still in the surgery room, forcing the surgeon to reopen and cure the bleeding vessels, 3) formation of hematoma with the patient already in bed after surgery, forcing the entire team to return to the hospital, in order to perform a new surgical procedure on the patient with new cauterizations, with an electric scalpel and/or thread ligatures, 4) as known, upon exiting the parotid gland, the branches of the facial nerve (7th cranial pair), the nerve responsible for the face mobility, become superficial, whereby the cauterizations performed on the subcutaneous tissue might damage these nerve ends, and where the same damage might arise from the use of the scalpel or the scissors (sectioning). It is not rare that, with the use of the cited procedures, the patient develops a pull of the lip to one side due to injury of branches of the facial nerve, such injury being reverted in a few weeks in the majority of cases, however causing a great amount of discomfort to the surgical team and especially to the patient, 5) complications of the hematomas: the hematomas (formed by use of techniques based on scalpel or scissors), depending on their volume (sometimes quite large and deforming the face of the patient), as well as depending on the time from formation thereof until being attended to, might cause a significant amount of damage to the skin of the face, such as extensive cutaneous necrosis and also injuries of branches of the facial nerve due to compression.
If the formed hematoma also reaches the neck and is not drained in a short period of time, the whole skin of the face and neck will be infiltrated (purple), with a risk of necrosis, and the least consequence of this fact will be that the patient will spend several weeks treating the ecchymoses (purple blotches) and the facial and cervical (neck) edema.
All plastic surgeons consider the hematoma and injuries to the facial nerve to be the most serious factors of complication associated with facelift surgery (plastic surgery of the face).
The formation of hematomas extends, and sometimes doubles the surgery time, increasing the time of permanence in the hospital, burdening the patient and stressing the team, in addition to entailing costs in regard of various dressings and repeated surgical procedures, when cutaneous necrosis occurs. In these cases the hospital costs may increase to great extent.
The injuries incurred by the facial nerve cause the patient to postpone his or her return to normal activity, with correspondingly significant financial losses, depending on the patient's profession.
The device and method disclosed by the present invention are capable of remedying these disadvantages, particularly in the case of bleeding associated with facelift surgery procedures. With the use of the present invention there is obtained an improvement in the quality of the cutaneous cuts, less post-op edema, reduced surgery time, minimization of ecchymoses, prophylaxis of injuries to the facial nerve, and most of all, the post-op formation of hematomas is minimized.

Surgical device and method for cutaneous detachment of skin


Disclosed are stabilized aqueous preparations containing an antidepressant in admixture with a stabilizing compound such as L-methionine, D-methionine, DL-methionine, or mixtures thereof. The stabilized preparations display better stability when exposed to light, relatively high temperatures, time, and peroxides resulting in longer shelf-lives. Antidepressants which are stabilized include mirtazapine, mianserin, septiline, and amitriptyline.

1. Field
This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions generally, and to stabilized aqueous solutions of certain antidepressant drugs specifically.
2. State of the Art
Solutions of certain antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline) are not very stable. They discolor, form particles, and/or suffer a decrease in concentration under certain conditions. For example, they may discolor or show a decrease in concentration upon exposure to light; upon the formation of peroxides in, or addition of peroxides to, the solutions; or when such solutions are stored at elevated temperatures. Particles may also form in such solutions under these conditions. Discoloration, development of opalescence, a decrease in concentration, and particle formation are all tokens of instability. These tokens of instability may occur rather rapidly, sometimes within days, forcing the dispensing pharmacist to mix new solutions frequently.
An attempt to stabilize dry pharmaceutical preparations containing amitriptyline oxide dihydrate is described in German Patent Application DE 3247676 A1, published on Jun. 28, 1984 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,202). That patent application describes a composition containing amitriptyline oxide dihydrate and an organic acid including certain listed amino acids. The organic acid, especially citric acid, is used to stabilize the amitriptyline.
GB 2,082,910A to Berk Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (published on Mar. 17, 1982) describes a pharmaceutical composition (e.g. a syrup) comprising amitriptyline and L-tryptophan in an inert carrier. The L-tryptophan reportedly acts to reduce side-effects associated with the amitriptyline.
EP 93,373A (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,131) to Abbott Laboratories describes a liquid pharmaceutical composition useful for preventing irritation of the nasal mucousal membrane. The composition contains a tri-cyclic antidepressant, certain buffers, and "preservatives". The preservatives listed include: benzalkonium chloride, edetate disodium, sodium bisulfate, phenylmercuric acetate, cetylpyridinium chloride, thimerosal, chlorobutamol, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.

Stabilized solutions of psychotropic agents


Manganese or silicon carbide is formed in a solid state reaction by mixing manganese or silicon oxide particles with carbonaceous material (e.g., coke) particles. The materials may be formed into agglomerates including excess carbonaceous material and heated in a suitable reactor vessel. An iron source, such as pig iron and/or iron scrap, can also be added. In that case, the manganese or silicon carbide dissolves in molten iron to produce ferrosilicon or ferromanganese alloys.

The use of additives such as ferrosilicon and ferromanganese alloys is well known in the metallurgical arts. These materials are often sold in the form of master alloys, that is, alloys of these elements with iron in a relatively high alloy percentage (higher than that desired in a final product) for mixing with more iron or another iron alloy to provide the ultimately desired content of manganese or silicon.
These iron-silicon or -manganese alloys are made by various techniques including the use of blast furnaces and electric arc furnaces. In a conventional process for forming an iron master alloy, a metal oxide such as a manganese oxide or silicon oxide in coarse lump form is charged directly in combination with lump coke or coal into a furnace and heated to reduce the oxide and form molten silicon or manganese. This metal (including silicon which is technically a metalloid) is then mixed with an iron melt to form an iron alloy.
Silicon carbide is generally made by the Acheson process which involves the use of a silicon source such as sand or quartz and a carbon source such as coke breeze in an electric furnace. The heating times are very long and the resulting silicon carbide is relatively expensive, coarse and of mixed quality.
In these processes, the reduction reactions are in part between gas phases and the coarse lump material and in part between liquid metal and liquid slag. Chemical reaction rates are slow, requiring very large furnace size. Heat transfer to the reacting liquids is very difficult, requiring expensive electrical energy, and refractory demands are severe.
Unlike iron, which is fully reducible by carbon from the iron oxide to elemental metal without melting, silicon and manganese are reducible by carbon only at temperatures above their melting points. Thus, while agglomerates of finely divided iron oxide and carbon can be completely reduced in the solid state, similar agglomerates of silicon or manganese oxides will undergo melting and disintegration before reduction is complete and therefor require containment within a refractory vessel and the process in general reverts to a conventional liquid state reduction reaction process with slow reaction rate and expensive heating throughout the process. In addition, such processing normally dictates batch mode which further increases energy costs, material handling costs and decreases productivity.

Solid state reaction of silicon or manganese oxides to carbides and their alloying with ferrous melts


A vehicle seat has a cushion integrated into a seat part and/or a seat back. The cushion has a ventilation layer through which air can flow and a cushion cover stretched over the cushion surface facing the seated individual. A plurality of electrically driven miniature fans which are located in air channels to blow air into the ventilation layer that terminate at the underside and rear of the cushion facing away from the cushion cover are provided. The air channels extend up to the ventilation layer. To optimize the ventilation efficiency of the seat ventilation, exhaust air channels are provided in the cushion that extend from the ventilation layer up to the underside or rear of the cushion and terminate freely there.

The invention relates to a vehicle seat and, more particularly, to a vehicle seat with a cushion integrated into a seat part and/or a seat back, the cushion consists of a ventilation layer through which air can flow and especially consists of a coarse-mesh spacing kit.
Ventilated vehicle seats of this kind serve to improve seat climate comfort, both when entering a parked vehicle that has been overheated by prolonged exposure to the sun and also during long travel times.
In a vehicle seat of this kind, such as is disclosed in DE 196 28 698 C1, the cushion layer through which air can flow and which consists of a coarse-mesh spacing knit, the so-called ventilation layer, completely covers a cushion cover made of rubberized hair or foam. The cushion layer rests on a cushion support, a spring core for example, and is covered on its top or front facing away from the cushion cover by a pressure distribution layer that is permeable to air and is made of a spacing knit, nonwoven fabric, or open-pored foam. The pressure distribution layer is covered by a cushion cover and a cover filling is inserted between the cushion and the pressure distribution layer. To ventilate the ventilation layer, a plurality of electrically driven miniature fans or miniature blowers is provided. These are placed in the air channels incorporated into the cushion cover. These air channels are distributed over the surface of the cushion. In a limited area above the air channel openings, an intermediate layer that is not permeable to air, a film for example, is located on the top of the ventilation layer that faces away from the air channel opening. This is done so that the air that is blown through the air channel into the ventilation layer does not immediately escape from the pressure distribution layer and the cushion cover, but is deflected and flows through the ventilation layer. The miniature fans draw air from the area of the passenger compartment located below the seat and blow it into the ventilation layer. In the ventilation layer, the air can spread out in all directions and flows through the pressure distribution layer and the cushion cover when the seat is unoccupied, into the air space above the seat surface, thus causing a rapid cooling of the seat surface which may be heated by solar radiation for example. When the seat is occupied, the air flows in the ventilation layer and emerges at the open ends of the ventilation layer. In this way, it creates a temperature and humidity gradient and carries away the air moistened by the seated individual.
The goal of the invention is to optimize the ventilation efficiency of the seat ventilation system in a vehicle seat of the above-mentioned type.
The goal is achieved in a vehicle seat with a cushion integrated into a seat part and/or a seat back. The cushion consists of a ventilation layer through which air can flow and especially consists of a coarse-mesh spacing knit. A ventilation layer, and a cushion cover stretched over the surface of the cushion facing the seated person, along with a plurality of electrically powered miniature fans are also provided. The fans are located in air supply channels that terminate on the cushion side facing away from the cushion cover. The fans blow air into the ventilation layer and extend up to the ventilation layer.
The vehicle seat according to the invention has the advantage of providing exhaust air channels in the cushion such that, when the seat is occupied, the ventilation air can escape from the cushion unimpeded after flowing through the ventilation layer. This thus creates a relatively high humidity and temperature gradient with respect to the microclimate on the surface of the cushion, so that transpiration moisture is removed efficiently from the cushion surface. At the same time, the resistance to through flow of the ventilation knit layer is reduced, so that the air in the ventilation layer does not press against the surface of the cushion. This thus avoids blowing directly on the seat user. In this way, the seat user does not have the sensation of a draft. As a result of the low through-flow resistance of the ventilation layer, the efficiency of the fans and the ventilation efficiency in general are improved.
Advantageous embodiments of the vehicle seat according to the invention with advantageous improvements and embodiments of the invention are described herein.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the openings of the intake and exhaust air channels on the underside or back of the cushion are located so that the incoming and exhaust air streams are separate from one another. This prevents the exhaust air, in a form of short-circuit flow, from penetrating once again as incoming air into the intake air channels, and as a result increasingly enriching the ventilation air with moisture by passing it several times through the ventilation layer.
If cavities are located in the back part below the cushion in the seat part or behind the cushion in the back part, according to advantageous embodiments of the invention, these cavities are used for drawing in air through the miniature fans located in the intake air channels and are provided for this purpose with an air intake opening through which air can enter from the area below the vehicle seat. The exhaust air channels provided in the cushion extend into air shafts that pass completely through the cavity and terminate outside the cavity.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A conveyor device for conveying articles includes: travel units, trays provided for the respective travel units, and infill plates, each covering a clearance left between the trays. A swing bar supports the infill plate so as to vertically swing the infill plate and is provided at a position shifted by a predetermined distance L in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the travel unit from the position of a coupler connecting the travel unit supporting a plate-tilting shaft and the travel unit traveling ahead, the plate-tilting shaft supporting the infill plate so as to laterally tilt the infill plate.

A conveyor device according to the related art includes article supports such as trays that are provided on their respective travel units so as to travel on a conveying path. In such a conveyor device, a clearance is left between the adjacent article supports. The clearance is covered with an infilling member such as a cover, thereby preventing an article from being dropped or caught into the clearance. For example, in WO 00/02802 ("Patent Literature 1"), a cover member (infilling member) is slidably attached to the underside of an article support so as to cover a gap (clearance) left between the article supports of adjacent conveyor units.
In the conveyor device, the article support is provided so as to tilt relative to a travel unit. An article on the article support is discharged to a chute that includes a slope with a tilted surface or a conveyor, e.g., a roller conveyor. When the article on the article support is discharged to the chute, the infilling member is tilted with the article support.


A computer is provided having a bus interface unit coupled between a CPU bus, a PCI bus and/or a graphics bus. The bus interface unit includes controllers linked to the respective busses and further includes a plurality of queues placed within address and data paths linking the various controllers. A processor controller coupled between a processor local bus determines if an address forwarded from the processor is the first address within a sequence of addresses used to select a set of quad words constituting a cache line. If the address (i.e., target address) is not the first address (initial address) in that sequence, then the target address is modified so that it becomes the initial address in that sequence. Quad words are received in sequential order and placed into the queue. When the quad words are sent to the CPU, they are in toggle order. This ensures the processor controller, and eventually the processor, will read quad words in toggle mode address order, even though the quad words are dispatched from the peripheral device in address-increasing (non-toggle mode) order.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a computer and, more particularly, to a bus interface unit which allows a central processing unit ("processor") to read burst of data from a device coupled to a peripheral bus and, more particularly, to read the data provided in sequential address order from the device into the processor in toggle mode order.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern computers are called upon to execute instructions and transfer data at increasingly higher rates. Many computers employ CPUs which operate at clocking rates exceeding several hundred MHz, and further have multiple busses connected between the CPUs and numerous input/output devices. The busses may have dissimilar protocols depending on which devices they link. For example, a CPU local bus connected directly to the CPU preferably transfers data at a faster rate than a peripheral bus connected to slower input/output devices. A mezzanine bus may be used to connect devices arranged between the CPU local bus and the peripheral bus. The peripheral bus can be classified as, for example, an industry standard architecture ("ISA") bus, an enhanced ISA ("EISA") bus or a microchannel bus. The mezzanine bus can be classified as, for example, a peripheral component interface ("PCI") bus to which higher speed input/output devices can be connected.
Coupled between the various busses are bus interface units. According to somewhat known terminology, the bus interface unit coupled between the CPU bus and the PCI bus is often termed the "north bridge". Similarly, the bus interface unit between the PCI bus and the peripheral bus is often termed the "south bridge".
The north bridge, henceforth termed a bus interface unit, serves to link specific busses within the hierarchical bus architecture. Preferably, the bus interface unit couples data, address and control signals forwarded between the CPU local bus, the PCI bus and the memory bus. Accordingly, the bus interface unit may include various buffers and/or controllers situated at the interface of each bus linked by the interface unit. In addition, the bus interface unit may receive data from a dedicated graphics bus, and therefore may include an advanced graphics port ("AGP"). As a host device, the bus interface unit may be called upon to support both the PCI portion of the AGP (or graphics-dedicated transfers associated with PCI, henceforth is referred to as a graphics component interface, or "GCI"), as well as AGP extensions to the PCI protocol.
Mastership of the various busses is preferably orchestrated by an arbiter within the bus interface unit. For example, if the CPU (or processor) coupled to the local CPU bus wishes to read data from a peripheral device coupled to the peripheral bus, it must solicit mastership of the peripheral bus before doing so. Once mastership is granted, the processor can then read the appropriate data from the peripheral device (preferably an input/output device) to temporary storage devices or "queues" within the bus interface unit.
Typically, data is arranged within the peripheral device, system memory and/or cache locations within the processor according to cache lines. A read operation from a peripheral device to the processor assumes that at least a portion if not the entire cache line is involved in the read transaction. To transfer an entire cache line, several clock cycles may be needed. For example, a cache line may contain four quad words and each read cycle can transfer one quad word or eight bytes across a 64-bit memory bus.
A particular byte within the cache line can therefore be addressed by several bits. The least significant three bits can be used to determine a particular offset within each quad word, and the next two least significant bits are used to determine which quad word is being addressed within the cache line.
In many instances in which a processor requests data from a peripheral device, the first address dispatched to the peripheral device designates either the first, second, third or fourth quad word within a particular cache line. Thus, it is said that the initial address is not constrained to a cache line boundary. In fact, most modern processors extract quad words from a cache line based on a particular addressing mode known as the "toggle mode".
Toggle mode addressing of the cache line is generally known as a specific order by which data is read into the processor. Toggle mode addressing depends on which quad word is first addressed. The first-addressed quad word is often deemed the "target" quad word. Toggle mode addressing can be thought of as dividing a cache line in half, wherein the next successive quad word is dependent on where in the cache line the target quad word resides. For example, if a target quad word resides at hexadecimal address location 08 (or 01000 binary), then the target quad word will be read first, followed by quad word at address 00 to complete the ordering of the first half of the cache line being read. The second half of the cache line is read identical to the first half. That is, the quad word at hexadecimal address location 18 will be read before address location 10.
The mechanism of toggle mode addressing from an initial target address until the entire cache line is transferred is generally well known as a conventional microprocessor addressing scheme. Unfortunately, a peripheral device connected to the PCI bus or the dedicated graphics bus (e.g., AGP) wants to send and receive bursts of data in sequential addressing order (i.e., data residing at addresses having numerically increasing values). In particular, a peripheral device contains a cache line of data accessible by an initial address representing the smallest addressing value of that cache line. The target address may access a quad word somewhere within that cache line and not necessarily the same address as the initial address. To receive a burst of data from the peripheral device into the processor, it is advantageous to retrieve the data from the peripheral device in sequential addressing order. However, the sequentially increasing addresses are not recognizable to a processor requesting data in toggle mode order. Thus, the target address for the cache line to be read by the processor must somehow be modified so that a sequential order of addresses, beginning with the initial address, can be sent. The peripheral device could then more efficiently burst data at those address locations back toward the processor. The benefit in bursting data address in sequential order becomes apparent when dealing with the peripheral bus protocol.
Typical accesses to a peripheral device requires arbitration of the peripheral bus. Once mastership is gained, the processor can then address data residing within the peripheral device. Thereafter, the data can be returned to the processor. If the target address is not the initial address (i.e., lowest address in a numerically increasing sequence of addresses) of the cache line, then only the target data of one quad word can be transferred at a time. Extracting the next quad word within that cache line in toggle mode order requires the same sequence of steps used to transfer the target data. The cycles involving arbitration, address, data, and turn-around must therefore be repeated four times for the four quad words within each cache line. This would therefore involve at least sixteen peripheral bus cycles.
It would therefore be desirable to derive a bus interface unit which can modify the target address to that of an initial address used to access the first (lower most addressable) quad word within a sequence of quad words forming the cache line. By modifying the addressing seen by the peripheral device, the peripheral device can send data to the processor in burst fashion conducive to the peripheral device. That is, the peripheral device would like to dispatch data in sequential, increasing address order. If, somehow, the first quad word can be addressed as an initial quad word, then the remaining quad words in the cache line will naturally burst from the peripheral device without having to re-arbitrate for the peripheral bus or consume cycle time to effectuate turn-around.

System and method for aligning an initial cache line of data read from an input/output device by a central processing unit