The use of a sulfonated polyester ionomer resin in a colored, drawn polyamide or polyester fiber results in improved color strength and appearance. Sodium sulfo isophthalate polybutylene terephthalate copolymers when melt blended with synthetic polyamides or polyesters are shown to enhance color strength in drawn fibers. In addition the sulfonated polyesters reduce color strength variation in colored fibers made with different batches of colorant. Water insoluble sulfonated polyester ionomers are preferred.

The invention relates generally to a process to prepare drawn melt-spun polymeric fibers colored during the melt-spinning process. More particularly, the invention relates to a process to form polyamide or polyester based melt-colored fibers, containing novel polyester ionomer additive(s), that exhibit improved color and aesthetics over prior art melt-colored fibers.
Coloration of fibers has a long history, and the science of dyeing, initially of natural fibers such as flax, cotton and wool, has been under continuous development since Neolithic times. The appearance of man-made fibers, (e.g. cellulosics, acrylics, polyamides and polyesters), stimulated further developments in dyeing, and this method of coloring of fibers and articles made therefrom continues to be the most-practised technique for the production of colored fiber-based articles of manufacture.
In the case of fibers based on the more recent polymers such as polyamides and polyesters, which are spun from the melt, there exists an alternative method for coloration, i.e. addition of the colorant species into said melt and direct extrusion of colored fibers. While such a process may be carried out with dyes, it is more often carried out with pigments, (although the said process is popularly known in the industry as xe2x80x9csolution dyeingxe2x80x9d). The major difference between dyes and pigments is that, under prevailing processing conditions, pigments are virtually insoluble in polymers, whereas dyes are soluble, (see definitions in German Standards DIN 55943, 55944 and 55949).
As the technique of melt-pigmentation has been developed, it has been demonstrated that fibers made in this way can exhibit certain advantages over those made by post-spinning dyeing of fibers. Such advantages includexe2x80x94improvements to resistance to degradation and fading in sunlight; lower susceptibility to fading and/or yellowing by polluting gases in the atmosphere, such as ozone and nitrogen oxides; improved resistance to chemicals, either in dry-cleaning processes or due to accidental spillage; less leaching or fading of color during laundering or cleaning process involving water and detergents; no need for post-spinning dyeing, or the other processes involved in applying and fixing said dyes onto/into the fiber.
However, melt-pigmentation is also considered to have some disadvantages in terms of the color and appearance obtained in the final fiber. The fibers are known to those skilled in the art to exhibit degrees of lustre and low brightness which can render the said fibers unsuitable in certain applications.
The color change resulting from the addition of pigments to polymers is based on the wavelength-dependant absorption and scattering of light, the appearance and color of the final product being a combination of these two factors as described in the Kubelka-Munk theory. [Note that a description of this theory, and the general concepts of color and its measurement may be found in xe2x80x9cColour Physics for Industryxe2x80x9d, Roderick McDonald (Ed.), The Society of Dyers and Colourists, Bradford, UK, 2nd edition (1997)]. Dyes can only absorb light and not scatter it, since the physical prerequisite for scatteringxe2x80x94a certain minimum particle sizexe2x80x94does not exist in the case of dyes in molecular solution; these colors are therefor transparent. In so far as the transparency is attributable to the dye, complete absorption of the light will result in black shades, selected absorption in colored shades.
The optical effect of pigments may in the same way be based on light absorption. If, however, the refractive index of the pigment differs appreciably from that of the polymer (which is almost always the case) and, if a specific particle size range is present, scattering takes place; the initially transparent polymer becomes white and opaque, or if selective absorption takes place at the same time, colored and opaque.
No scattering occurs when the particle sizes are very small, and none or very little if they are very large. With all colored pigments that selectively absorb, the shade and strength of the final color is thus influenced by particle size. The transparency and thickness of the colored substrate may additionally affect the color strength. While some pigments are available in so-called transparent grades (e.g. red and yellow iron oxides) a complete color range across the spectrum is not readily available. Many such ultra-low particle size colorants are expensive, and difficult to maintain at high dispersion when compounded into a polymer matrix. It is also known that very low particle size additives in polymer melts can exhibit a profound effect on the Theological properties of said melt, resulting in formulations which are difficult to spin using standard equipment and techniques. Use of large particle size pigments is not a viable option either, as such additives will result in blocking of filtration systems and spinneret holes, and tend to lead to filament breaks in fiber production.
In any case, a large number of melt-pigmented fiber products are required to be opaque, and the problem lies in producing opaque colored fibers with levels of color brightness close to those of dyed products. Note that a fundamental difference between dyeing and pigmenting of fibers is that, while dyes are either colored or absorb all wavelengths (i.e. give black shades), pigmentation introduces an extra variable in that white pigments are readily available, whereas there is no such species as a xe2x80x9cwhite dyexe2x80x9d.
Another potential problem with particulate colorants in a polymeric melt-extruded product is the phenomenon of dichroism, or optical anisotropy. Pigment particles are not necessarily isotropic in shape, and may be needle-shaped, rod-shaped, or platelets. They may thus become oriented in a particular direction in processing. The apparent color then depends on the direction of observation. The origin of this phenomenon is to be found in the fact that certain pigments crystallise in crystal systems of low symmetry resulting in directionally dependant physical properties. As far as the coloristic properties are concerned, this signifies that the absorption and scattering constants differ in the various principle crystallographic axes, i.e. such crystals are optically anisotropic.
With regard to the final fiber (as opposed to the above comments on the pigments themselves) the appearance of a sample thereof can vary depending on the angle of illumination and/or observation. Fiber samples are normally prepared for color and appearance testing by carefully wrapping the fiber or yarn sample (under conditions of uniform tension and consistent positioning of the said fibers) around a flat xe2x80x9ccardxe2x80x9d, and assessing the color properties, and more importantly any differences between said properties and those of the desired standard sample or data, under standard conditions of illumination and observation. This may be carried out visually, but more usually instrumentally. Methods and apparatus for carrying out the analysis of color and appearance in this manner are well known to those skilled in the art.
During such examinations, there are two additional effects which might be observed if the sample is illuminated or observed at a number of different angles (for an example of multi-angle appearance testing of materials see U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,718, assigned to DuPont). The total amount of light reflected from the sample, per unit area, may change. The perceived color may also change. Unless such effects are specifically desired for particular aesthetic effects in a final article of manufacture, the appearance of either may result in the rejection of the fiber by the prospective customer. Eradication or reduction of such effects thus is important in obtaining first quality product.
There thus exists a need in the industry for a simple method to provide pigmented polymeric articles, especially melt-spun fibers, with improved color and appearance, whilst still using standard grades of pigment currently known to those skilled in the art to be suitable for this purpose, and equipment and techniques known to produce melt-pigmented fibers of the required properties for use in manufactured articles such as fabrics, textiles, carpets, threads, etc.
Vonk (U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,948) has claimed that end-capping of the amino end-groups of polyamides results in improvements to the brightness of compositions colored with organic pigments which are capable of themselves reacting with such amino end-groups. N-acetyl lactam is noted as a particularly preferred end-capper. This approach does not, however, fully solve the problem. The effect is limited to a particular set of organic pigments, and appears to be limited to use for colored polyamides only. The levels of additive end-capper are also quite high, in order to produce a sufficient reduction in amine end-group level to produce a noticeable effect. Finally, the use of this method requires a prior knowledge of the amine end-group level in the polyamide, (a non-trivial analytical task), and requires that the additive end-capper level be varied from polyamide to polyamide, (and potentially from batch to batch of the same polyamide), to account for the differing levels of amine end-groups therein.
The present inventors have discovered the surprising fact that addition of sulfonated polyester ionomer copolymers, at low levels, and irrespective of the type of colorant employed, results in the production of polyamide or polyester melt-pigmented fibers which exhibit improved color and appearance and reduced variation in color and appearance. The improvement in appearance between two samples can be measured as color strength. In order to fully achieve improved color and appearance, i.e. color strength, the fibers should be drawn.
The polymer used as the base, or matrix, polymer in the practise of this invention is selected from the set consisting of fiber-forming polyamides or polyesters.
Polyamides include those synthesised from lactams, alpha-omega amino acids, and pairs of diacids and diamines. Such polyamides include, but are not limited to, polycaprolactam [polyamide 6], polyundecanolactam [polyamide 11], polylauryllactam [polyamide 12], poly(hexamethylene adipamide) [polyamide 6,6], poly(hexamethylene sebacamide) [polyamide 6,10], poly(hexamethylene dodecanediamide) [polyamide 6,12], and copolymers and blends thereof. Preferred polyamides are polyamide 6 and polyamide 6,6.
Polyesters include those synthesised from one or more diacids and one or more glycols. Such polyesters include, but are not limited to, poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET], poly(propylene terephthalate) [PPT], poly(butylene terephthalate) [PBT], poly(ethylene naphthalate) [PEN], polybutylene naphthanoate [PBN], polypropylene naphthanoate [PPN], polycyclohexane dimethanol terephthalate [PCT] and copolymers and blends thereof. Preferred polyesters are PET, PBT and PPT.
Colorants used in the practise of this invention may be selected from the categories of dyes, inorganic or organic pigments, or mixtures of these. Any number of different colorants may be used, in any proportions, although it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the total loading of colorants in the polymer matrix, and the number of different colorants used, will be kept to a minimum commensurate with obtaining the color required. Generally the level of colorants will range from 0.1 to 8.0% of the fiber weight.
Inorganic pigment types include, but are not limited to, elements, oxides, mixed oxides, sulfides, aluminates, sodium sulfo-silicates, sulfates and chromates. Non-limiting examples of these include: carbon blacks, zinc oxide, titanium dioxides, zinc sulfides, zinc ferrites, iron oxides, ultramarine blue, Pigment Brown 24, Pigment Red 101, and Pigment Yellow 119.
Organic pigment types include, but are not limited to, azos, disazos, quinacridones, perylenes, naphthalene tetracarboxylic acids, flavanthrones, isoindolinones, tetrachloroisoindolinones, anthraquinones, anthanthrones, dioxazines, phthalocyanines, and azo lakes. Non-limiting examples of these include Pigment Blue 60, Pigment Red 122, Pigment Red 149, Pigment Red 177, Pigment Red 179, Pigment Red 202, Pigment Violet 29, Pigment Blue 15, Pigment Green 7, and Pigment Yellow 150.
Colorants may be added to the matrix polymer in a variety of ways. These include direct addition of colorant(s) to the matrix polymer, addition of single-pigment dispersions (i.e. addition of each colorant as a separate concentrate in a carrier resin), and addition of multiple colorant dispersions (i.e. addition of a single concentrate of mixed colorants, providing the desired color on let down into the matrix polymer, in a carrier resin). Any of these addition methods may be carried out as a separate compounding step prior to melt-spinning, or may be carried out on the melt-spinning apparatus itself. In either case, the colorant(s) may be added at any stage of the process, for example at the extruder throat, at any addition port on the extruder barrel, at the melt pump, or at the spinneret chamber. More than one addition point may be utilised in the case of single-pigment dispersions.
The carrier resin used to produce pigment concentrates may be selected from a set consisting of low or high molecular weight polymers which have suitable compatibility with the matrix resin. One ordinarily skilled in the art of polymer compounding and blending will be familiar with which carrier polymers should be used to obtain suitable results in each matrix resin. Preferred carrier resins are PET, PBT, PPT, sulfonated polyester ionomer copolymers, polyamide 6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 6,6, polyamide 6,10, polyamide 6,12, and copolymers and blends thereof.
Polyester ionomers, in the context of the present invention, are defined as polyester polymers derived from the reaction residue of an aryl carboxylic acid sulfonate salt, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic diol or any of their ester-forming derivatives. The said polyester ionomers comprise some monovalent and/or divalent sulfonate salt units represented by the formula 1A:
(Mn+O3S)d-A-(Cxe2x95x90O)pxe2x88x92
or formula 1B:
(Mn+O3S)d-A-(ORxe2x80x3OH)p
wherein p=1-3, d=1-3, and p+d=2-6, and A is an aryl group containing one or more aromatic rings: for example, benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, biphenyl, terphenyl, oxy diphenyl, sulfonyl, diphenyl or alkyl diphenyl, where the sulfonate substituent is directly attached to an aryl ring. These groups are incorporated into the polyester through carboxylic ester linkages. The aryl groups may contain one or more sulfonate substituents (d=1-3) and may have one or more carboxylic acid linkages (p=1-3). Groups with one sulfonate substituent (d=1) and two carboxylic linkages (p=2) are preferred. M is a metal, with valency n=1-5. Preferred metals are alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, where n=1 or 2. Zinc and tin are also preferred metals. Rxe2x80x3 is an alkyl spacer group: for example, xe2x80x94CH2CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2CH2OCH2CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH(CH3)CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2CH2CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2CH2CH2CH2xe2x80x94.
Typical sulfonate substituents that may be incorporated into the metal sulfonate polyester copolymer may be derived from the following carboxylic acids or their ester-forming derivatives: sodium sulfoisophthalic acid, potassium sulfoterephthalic acid, sodium sulfonaphthalenedicarboxylic acid, calcium sulfoisophthalate, potassium 4,4xe2x80x2-di(carbomethoxy)biphenyl sulfonate, lithium 3,5-di(carbomethoxy)benzene sulfonate, sodium p-carboxymethoxybenzene sulfonate, dipotassium 5-carbomethoxy-1,3-disulfonate, sodio sulfonaphthalene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid, 4-lithio sulfophenyl-3,5-dicarboxybenzene sulfonate, 6-sodio sulfo-2-naphthyl-3,5-dicarbomethoxybenzene sulfonate and dimethyl-5-[4-(sodiosulfo)phenoxy] isophthalate. Other suitable sulfonate carboxylic acids and their ester-forming derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,018,272 and 3,546,008 herein incorporated by reference. The most preferred sulfonate polyesters are derived from lithium or sodium 3,5-dicarbomethoxybenzene sulfonate.
Preferred ionomer polyester polymer comprises divalent ionomer units represented by the formula 2:
xe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)-Ph(R)(SO3xe2x88x92M+)-(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94
wherein R is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or aryl, and M is a metal.
The most preferred polyester ionomer has the formula 3:
where the ionomer units, x, are from 0.1-50 mole percent of the polymer with 5 to 13 mole percent being preferred and 8 to 12 mole percent being especially preferred. Most preferably R is hydrogen. It is also preferred that the polyester sulfonate resin be water insoluble. In general water insoluble resins will be of high molecular weight (IV greater than or equal to 0.2dl/g in 60/40 phenol/tetrachloroethane solution) and have less than 15 mole percent sulfonate units in the polyester chain. Sulfonate copolymer polyester resins with IVxe2x89xa70.3dl/g and with 8-12 mole percent sulfonate units are preferred.
Typical glycol or diol reactants, R1, include straight chain, branched or cycloaliphatic alkane diols and may contain from 2 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples of such diols include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol; propylene glycol, i.e. 1,2- and 1,3-propanediol; butane diol, i.e. 1,3- and 1,4-butanediol; diethylene glycol; 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol; 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol; 1,3-pentanediol; 1,5-pentanediol, dipropylene glycol; 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediol; 1,6-hexanediol, dimethanol decalin; dimethanol bicyclooctane; 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol and particularly its cis- and trans-isomers; triethylene glycol, 1,10-decanediol; and mixtures of any of the foregoing. A preferred cycloaliphatic diol is 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol or its chemical equivalent. When cycloaliphatic diols are used as the diol component, a mixture of cis- and trans-isomers may be used, it is preferred to have a trans-isomer content of 70% or more. Chemical equivalents to the diols include esters, such as dialkyl esters, diaryl esters and the like.
Examples of aromatic dicarboxylic acid reactants, as represented by the decarboxylated residue A1, are isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid, 1,2-di(p-carboxyphenyl)ethane, 4,4xe2x80x2-dicarboxydiphenyl ether-4,4xe2x80x2-bisbenzoic acid and mixtures thereof. All of these acids contain at least one aromatic nucleus. Acids containing fused rings can also be present, such as in 1,4-, 1,5- or 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acids. The preferred dicarboxylic acids are terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid or mixtures thereof.
The most preferred ionomer copolyesters are poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET], poly(propylene terephthalate) [PPT] or poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) [PBT] ionomers. It is most preferred that the polyester metal sulfonate salt copolymers be insoluble in water.
Also contemplated herein are the above ionomers with minor amounts, e.g. from about 0.5 to about 15 percent by weight, of units derived from aliphatic acids and/or aliphatic polyols to form copolyesters. The aliphatic polyols include glycols, such as poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(butylene glycol). Such copolyesters can be made following the teachings of, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,465,319 and 3,047,539.
The polyester ionomers described above may be incorporated into the matrix polymer either during a melt-compounding step prior to fiber spinning, or during the fiber spinning process itself. These may be added in a separate process to the addition of the pigments, or may be added along with the said pigments. If the latter, it may be that the polyester ionomers are used as carrier resins for the said colorants, although this is not necessary for the practise of the present invention.
The amount of polyester ionomer(s) used in the practise of the present invention will vary depending on the types and amounts of colorants used to obtain any particular color. It has been found, in the course of extensive experimentation, that addition of said polyester ionomers to the melt formulation for spinning into fiber which produces a final sulfur level of between about 200 and about 5000 ppm gives the best results. The sulfonate polyester copolymers are to be used at 0.5 to 30% by weight of the fiber.
Besides the matrix polymers, colorants and polyester ionomers described above, the formulations used in the practise of the present invention may contain other components. These may include, but are not limited toxe2x80x94antioxidants, UV stabilisers, antiozonants, soilproofing agents, stainproofing agents, antistatic additives, antimicrobial agents, lubricants, melt viscosity enhancers, flame retardants and processing aids.
A formulation used in the practise of the present invention comprising:
1) A matrix polymer, selected from the set of fiber-forming polyamides and fiber-forming polyesters, as this is defined above;
2) A colorant system comprising of one or more colorants selected from the sets of inorganic and/or organic colorants as these are defined above, said colorant system optionally including one or more carrier resins for said pigments;
3) One or more sulfonated polyester copolymers, as these are defined above.
As stated previously, any or all of the above noted ingredients may be combined in a number of ways, either in a separate compounding step prior to actual melt-spinning of the fibers, or during the fiber spinning process itself. Both the separate compounding process and the fiber spinning process may be carried out using techniques and equipment well known to those ordinarily skilled in the arts of polymer compounding and fiber melt-spinning.
In order to achieve the full improvement in color strength and appearance it is necessary to draw the fibers formed from the sulfonated polyester blends. The optimum draw ratio will vary with the exact nature of the fiber matrix, colorant type and loading, sulfonate polyester type and concentration, fiber diameter and cross section shape. The draw ratio is defined as the ratio of the final length to the original length per unit weight of the yarn resulting from the drawing process. The optimum draw ratio for a given system can readily be determined by comparing the color strength of as spun fiber with that of the same fiber drawn under different conditions. In general a draw ratio from 1.05 to 7.00 may be used, with a draw ratio of 1.10 to 6.00 being more preferred. Fiber drawing may be achieved by any standard methods known in the art. The fiber may be drawn between two godet rolls, or pairs of rolls, or over a draw pin or pins, or a mixture of the two. The drawing may be done in single or multiple stages. The fiber is usually heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature prior to, or during, drawing to minimise fiber breakage, although heating is not a requirement for the invention. The heating may be carried out via heating of godet rolls, plates, slits, pins or other means such as use of a heated chamber; hot gas such as steam, or hot liquid, such as water, may also be used.
The fibers produced from the practise of the present invention may be of a range of deniers per filament (dpf) depending on the ultimate use to which such fibers may be putxe2x80x94low dpf for textile use, higher dpf for use in carpets. The cross-sectional shape of the fibers may also be any of a wide range of possible shapes, including round, delta, trilobal, tetralobal, grooved, or irregular. These product fibers may be subjected to any of the known downstream processes normally carried out on melt-spun fibers, including crimping, bulking, twisting etc., to produce yarns suitable for incorporation into a variety of articles of manufacture, such as apparel, threads, textiles, upholstery and carpets.

Process to prepare polymeric fibers with improved color and appearance


A disconnect tool includes a bottom housing having a central longitudinal axis, a top housing, a release piston, and a shear sleeve. The bottom housing includes an internal torque transmission portion and an internal locking portion. The top housing includes a lower portion positioned within the bottom housing, where the outer surface includes an external locking portion to engage the internal locking portion of the bottom housing and an external torque transmission portion to engage the internal torque transmission portion of the bottom housing. The release piston translates longitudinally within the top housing along the central longitudinal axis from a locked position to an unlocked position. The shear sleeve secures the release piston in the locked position and disconnects from the release piston at a threshold force on the release piston to allow the release piston to translate along the central longitudinal axis to the unlocked position.

During wellbore operations, such as drilling and producing a well, an operator controls a work string disposed within the wellbore to perform various tasks. Sometimes, a work string is to be withdrawn from the wellbore with a portion of the work string (e.g., downhole portion, bottom hole assembly, or other) to remain in the wellbore. Work strings may include joints of threaded and coupled tubing, drill pipe, or a continuous tube of a coiled tubing string. Disconnect tools allow for separation of the work string at a downhole location to disconnect the portion of the work string (e.g., downhole portion, bottom hole assembly) to remain in the wellbore with the remainder of the work string to be removed from the wellbore.
Disconnect tools are used to allow selective release of the portion of the work string positioned below the disconnect tool. A hydraulic disconnect tool can separate upon application of a hydraulic pressure greater than a release pressure threshold.


An integrated circuit package-in-package system includes: mounting an integrated circuit device over a package carrier; forming a subassembly including: providing an integrated circuit package system having a carrier interposer with an integrated circuit die thereover, and mounting a device under the carrier interposer; mounting the subassembly over the integrated circuit device; and encapsulating the subassembly and the integrated circuit device over the package carrier.

In order to interface an integrated circuit with other circuitry, it is common to mount it on a lead frame or substrate. Each integrated circuit has bonding pads that are individually connected to the substrate's contact or terminal pads using extremely fine gold or aluminum wires or conductive balls, such as solder balls. The assemblies are then packaged by individually encapsulating them in molded plastic or ceramic bodies to create an integrated circuit package.
Integrated circuit packaging technology has seen an increase in the number of integrated circuits mounted on a single circuit board or substrate. The new packaging designs are more compact form factors, such as the physical size and shape of a packaged integrated circuit, and providing a significant increase in overall integrated circuit density.
However, integrated circuit density continues to be limited by the "real estate" available for mounting individual integrated circuits on a substrate. Even larger form factor systems, such as personal computers (PC's), compute servers, and storage servers, need more integrated circuits in the same or smaller "real estate". Particularly acute, the needs for portable personal electronics, such as cell phones, digital cameras, music players, personal digital assistants (PDA's), and location-based devices, have further driven the need for increased integrated circuit density.
This increased integrated circuit density, has led to the development of multi-chip packages in which more than one integrated circuit can be packaged. Each package provides mechanical support for the individual integrated circuits and one or more layers of interconnect lines that enable the integrated circuits to be connected electrically to surrounding circuitry.
Current multi-chip packages, also commonly referred to as multi-chip modules, typically consist of a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate onto which a set of separate integrated circuit components are directly attached. Such multi-chip packages have been found to increase integrated circuit density and miniaturization, improve signal propagation speed, reduce overall integrated circuit size and weight, improve performance, and lower costs—all primary goals of the computer industry.
Multi-chip packages whether vertically or horizontally arranged, can also present problems because they usually must be assembled before the integrated circuit and integrated circuit connections can be tested. Thus, when integrated circuits are mounted and connected in a multi-chip module, individual integrated circuits and connections cannot be tested individually, and it is not possible to identify known-good-die ("KGD") before being assembled into larger circuits. Consequently, conventional multi-chip packages lead to assembly process yield problems. This fabrication process, which does not identify KGD, is therefore less reliable and more prone to assembly defects.
Moreover, multi-chip packages provide integration solutions for packing more integrated circuits and components into a single package. However, market driven requirements continue to drive conventional multi-chip packages to smaller and smaller form factors.
Thus, a need still remains for an integrated circuit package-in-package system providing smaller form factor, low cost manufacturing, improved yield, improved reliability, and greater flexibility to offer more functionality and fewer footprints on the printed circuit board. In view of the ever-increasing need to save costs and improve efficiencies, it is more and more critical that answers be found to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit package-in-package system with carrier interposer


A method for controlling an application in a mobile device is disclosed. The method includes receiving environmental information, inferring an environmental context from the environmental information, and controlling activation of the application based on a set of reference models associated with the inferred environmental context. In addition, the method may include receiving a sound input, extracting a sound feature from the sound input, transmitting the sound feature to a server configured to group a plurality of mobile devices into at least one similar context group, and receiving, from the server, information on a leader device or a non-leader device and the at least one similar context group.

There currently exists a variety of portable computing devices (i.e., mobile devices), including wireless computing devices such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, and laptop computers, which are small, lightweight, and easily carried by users. Mobile devices such as cellular telephones, internet protocol (IP) telephones, and smartphone devices can communicate audio and data packets over wireless networks. In addition, mobile devices may also process software applications such as a web browser application, a music player, an email program, a game, etc.
Further, many such mobile devices may include one or more microphones that are used to capture audio signals. With wireless capabilities, the transmission of audio information, such as speech and music, on mobile devices by digital techniques has become widespread. Audio signals can also be processed for audio recognition, which is used for many applications such as searching for music in a mobile device.
Such applications, however, are typically configured to run continuously on the mobile device, such as for automatically capturing environmental sounds of the mobile device. Since the applications are running continuously, the mobile device may consume a large amount of power, thereby limiting the battery life of the mobile device. In addition, the applications may communicate audio information over a network continuously, further depleting the power resources of the mobile device. Thus, there is a need for a method and apparatus for controlling applications in a mobile device to improve the use of power resources.

Controlling applications in a mobile device based on environmental context


A MEMS-based optical steering apparatus for free space optical transmitters, receivers, and transceivers is disclosed. The MEMS device comprises actuators linked to an optic fiber, the actuators operable to maneuver the optical fiber in the X-Y plane at the focal point of the transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. The MEMS device may thus be used to replace gimbals for beam steering applications.

The present invention relates to the field of optical communications, and in particular to the field of beam steering for free space optical transceivers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) apparatus for operation of the pointing and tracking system of an optical transceiver that does not utilize external gimbals.
Laser communications systems are today employed in a vast array of applications, including without limitation communication with aircraft and satellites from ground positions. A laser communication system generally consists of a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal. A transmitting terminal typically receives an electrical signal from a signal source, and converts the electrical signal into an optical signal. The transmitting terminal then transmits the resulting optical signal using a transmitting telescope. The receiving terminal receives the optical signal through a receiving telescope, which focuses the optical signal into an optical photodetector, and then converts the optical signal back into an electrical signal.
In order for a receiving terminal to receive an optical signal from a transmitting terminal, the terminal telescopes must be properly aligned. This alignment process is known as beam steering. Generally, beam steering may be defined as changing the direction of the main lobe of a radiation pattern. In optical systems, beam steering is the manipulation of a transmitting telescope or receiving telescope, or both, to point in a desired direction. Other applications for beam steering, in addition to optical communications, include laser illumination, laser designation, laser radar, pointing and tracking, and remote optical sensing.
Beam steering in optical systems may be accomplished by changing the refractive index of the medium through which the beam is transmitted, or by the use of mirrors or lenses. In particular, some existing non-gimballed beam-steering solutions include acousto-optics, liquid crystals, electro-optics, micro-optics, galvanometer or magnetic mirrors, and micro-mirror arrays. These types of systems, however, have generally proven to be unwieldy, or lack the speed, precision, and reliability necessary for high-speed, long-distance free-space optical communications. Thus the most common means for beam steering in optical communications systems is by the use of a motorized gimballing system. A gimbal is a mechanical apparatus to allow a suspended object to rotate freely along two simultaneous axes, within a defined angle of view. Gimbals are well known in the art, having been used, for example, since at least as early as the sixteenth century in the suspension of maritime compasses. A gimballing system used for the alignment of an optical transmitter or receiver typically moves the entire transmitting or receiving telescope through the required field of view. Often, the transmitter and receiver telescopes are mechanically coupled so that the transmitted beam is in the exact direction of an incoming optical beam for collection by the receiving telescope, the two telescopes thereby operating with a common gimballing system.
Accurate alignment of the transceiver system is essential for free space laser communications systems. Therefore, gimballing systems must provide accurate alignment angular resolution in order for the receiver telescope to efficiently collect the incoming optical beam. Conversely, the transmitter telescope must be able to accurately point its beam so that a remote-receiving terminal can efficiently collect the optical signal for the photodetector. Mechanical gimballing systems have been favored in many free-space optical communications systems because they can provide very fast alignment times coupled with high angular resolution.
Gimballed beam-steering systems do, however, suffer from several important disadvantages. Such systems are quite heavy due to the weight of the mechanical components, motors, and servos necessary for such a system. While weight may not be as important a factor in the design of a land-based system, weight is of paramount importance in aircraft and, especially, satellite design. Gimballing systems are also quite bulky due to the required mechanical components, which is also a significant disadvantage in the design of airborne and spaceborne systems. Finally, mechanical gimballing systems require the use of a great deal of electrical power, far more power than is typically consumed by the electronics associated with an optical receiver or transmitter system. Again, while power consumption may not be as important a factor in permanent ground-based systems, it is a critically important factor in airborne and spaceborne systems, as well as in mobile ground-based systems such as may be mounted on land vehicles.
MEMS technology is today used to develop mechanical and electromechanical systems on a microscopic scale. MEMS devices are constructed using fabrication processes that are similar to those used for the construction of integrated electrical/electronic circuits (ICs). Such processes include ultraviolet lithography, thin film material deposition, and selective etching. Each of these processes are known in the art for the construction of both ICs and MEMS devices. MEMS devices have been used in a variety of applications, such as miniaturized macroscopic elements including mirrors, pressure sensors, accelerometers, and strain gauges. MEMS devices have been incorporated into a number of existing technologies in widely various fields, including microfluidics, ink jet printing heads, and drug delivery patches. MEMS offer many of the same advantages that ICs offer over macroscopic electronic components, including greatly reduced weight and bulk, lower power consumption, and economies of scale that allow them to be mass produced economically.
What is desired then is a device for beam pointing and tracking in an optical communications system that provides high speed and high angular resolution, with reduced size, weight, and power consumption as compared to traditional gimballing systems now employed in laser communications terminals. In particular, the inventors recognized that it would be desirable to develop a MEMS-based device for this purpose in order to take advantage of the very small size, weight, and power requirements of MEMS-based devices.

MEMS-based optical communications beam steering apparatus


A method for generating design requirements for has been developed. First, a framework is created for decomposing and categorizing organizational information into data elements that are stored in a data repository. A relationship is defined between the data elements and corresponding project information that is stored in the data repository. Next, a guided facilitation process is used to elicit objective information from the end-user regarding objectives for new technology. The requirements for the project are determined from the end-user based upon the specification information. This continues until informational needs have been specified and mapped with the corresponding data elements. Finally, a standards requirement document is generated and periodically updated using the mapped data elements from the data repository.

Information Technology (IT) systems are of critical importance to businesses and other organizations. It is common to spend large amounts of money and time in designing, developing and upgrading IT systems. One of the first set of activities leading to the development of IT systems includes specifying the requirements that must be fulfilled by the system.
One example of the process for accomplishing this task includes end users using word processing software to provide descriptions to IT personnel of their perceived requirements as text narratives. In another method, end users utilize Requirements Management systems to provide text narratives, or append other documents that are made available to IT personnel for design activities. In still other methods, users and IT personnel work in facilitated sessions to collaborate in describing requirements for system design activities. Most often the outputs of these sessions are text narratives created in word processing systems, as well as simple graphical representations often referred to as Use Cases that describe requirements of the Users. Finally, IT personnel may simply work on system design and development activities without explicit requirements provided by users.
Each of these methods has various inefficiencies as well as the potential for miscommunication for the system requirements. Consequently, a method for efficiently identifying requirements for an information technology system is needed.

Method for generating design requirements information technology development projects


A porous fibrous sheet material for use in the manufacture of food casings and the like is pressed prior to bonding and is bonded with about 10% by weight or less of a non-viscose bonding agent. The pressed and bonded material can be used to form casings having characteristics of thinness and elasticity similar to the thinness and elasticity of viscose-bonded casings, without the environmental problems associated therewith. The non-viscose bonding agent will result in significantly less shrinkage in the base web than results from viscose bonding.

The present invention relates generally to casings used for packaging food products such as sausage and the like. More particularly it is concerned with a non-viscose-bonded fibrous base web used in making reinforced casing, and a method of making the non-viscose-bonded fibrous base web.
Heretofore it has been the practice to make reinforced films, tubing, casings or skins for food products and the like by the encasement of bonded fibrous base papers or substrates in a film forming material. The substrate must have good absorptivity to provide for proper penetration of the encasing material. In order to withstand the treatment conditions at the time of encasement, the substrate must possess substantial wet and dry strength. Furthermore, when a caustic encasing medium such as viscose is used, the substrate must have sufficient caustic strength to enable it to retain its structural integrity during casing-forming operations. Heretofore substrates of this type frequently have been prepared by bonding a preformed and dried paper or fibrous base web with a dilute (1%) viscose solution followed by the steps of drying, regenerating the cellulose, washing and redrying. This bonding operation using the dilute viscose solution is sufficient to impart to the substrate adequate caustic resistance, and to allow the substrate to retain its porous, absorbent characteristics in order to result in complete impregnation and encasement by the concentrated viscose solution. Typically the casing-forming operation includes the steps of forming the substrate into a cylindrical tube, impregnating and encasing the substrate tube with a highly caustic viscose solution, regenerating the impregnate with acid, washing to remove excess acid and viscose, and drying the final reinforced film or casing. This process is set forth in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,613, Underwood, entitled "Impregnated Paper Webs and Method of Making Sausage Casing Thereof", thus clarifying the sequential evolution of the base web through the bonded substrate phase and then into the reinforced casing.
The casings produced in the manner set forth possess sufficient elasticity and burst resistance to be particularly well suited for enclosing meat and other food products that are injected into the interior of the tubes under pressure. Furthermore, they are sufficiently thin to allow proper drying of the tube during manufacture, and to provide for good through-sheet viscose penetration under rapid encasement operations, favorable shirring characteristics, and acceptable clarity of appearance. The viscose-bonded, viscose-encased casings thereby provide firm, uniform enclosures for well known products such as sausage, bologna and the like as well as other food products.
However, due to the environmental concerns associated with the use of viscose, various patents subsequent to the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,613 are directed toward the use of alternative materials for bonding the paper webs to provide appropriate casing substrates. In selecting bonding materials other than the commercially employed acid-regenerated dilute viscose, it is important that the bonding materials meet both the processing and performance requirements of the food casings to be produced therefrom. The substrate must retain its porous, absorbent characteristics in order to permit complete impregnation and encasement by the concentrated viscose solution. This is necessary in order to impart the required specific physical properties to the finished tube which make it an effective casing, or other end-use product. These physical properties include adequate strength and tube stretch during the stuffing, cooking and curing operation to ensure that the casing expands (or shrinks) to the required diameter, necessary clarity of appearance and a lack of unsightly artifacts. In addition, the initial base substrate must be thin enough to allow for proper drying of the tube during manufacture and for sufficient through-sheet viscose penetration under dynamic conditions. The substrate also should result in a casing having favorable shirring and other convertibility characteristics.
The characteristics described above have been embodied in the traditional viscose binder. The alternate binders that have been tried, however, have met with varying degrees of success. While certain of the chemical characteristics of viscose have been mimicked by alternative binders, viscose has thus far been unique in the magnitude of its three-dimensional shrinkage during regeneration, producing a uniquely thin sheet while maintaining its extensibility and other above-mentioned characteristics without further treatment. The use of a non-viscose-bonded substrate which is generally thicker than the conventional viscose-bonded substrate can result in poor viscose penetration under rapid encasement processes as well as poor shirring characteristics of the final casing, and can lead to drying problems and/or the appearance of artifacts on the casing. Furthermore, when alternative binders are used, in order to compensate for the lack of shrinkage and the resulting thicker paper product, it may be necessary to reconfigure or modify the equipment that is used during encasement, or to alter the encasement process itself such as by decreasing viscose viscosity or increasing dwell times, the latter reducing productivity. Furthermore, a casing formed from a viscose-bonded sheet has a characteristic high extensibility (as the tube is being expanded) which generally cannot be matched by alternate bonding systems. Thus, a reconfiguration or modification of equipment used in stuffing operations may be required to accommodate a non-viscose-bonded casing, or, in order to expand to the same final diameter as the naturally stretchy viscose-bonded casing, the paper might have to have a larger initial width than a viscose-bonded casing paper. Such reconfiguration or modification of converting equipment can be expensive and inconvenient, requiring shut-down of operations.

Bonded fibrous casing substrates and method of making same


A self-aligning global positioning system (GPS) antenna aligns with the earth's surface so as to maintain the integrity of the GPS tracking signal received by a GPS receiver. The antenna element may be maintained within a sealed container which floats inside a spherical reservoir filled with liquid. As a result, the GPS antenna moves along the inside surface of the spherical reservoir in a buoyant arrangement which self-levels the active element of the antenna with the earth's surface.

This invention relates generally to global positioning system (GPS) antennas.
The widespread availability of low cost GPS receivers has spawned a myriad of GPS applications. GPS receivers are used for example by boaters to determine their position. Hikers can carry hand-held GPS receivers to locate themselves. In addition, GPS receivers for vehicle navigation are also available in personal and commercial vehicles. The GPS receiver may work with mapping software to indicate the user's position on a computer displayed map.
In order for the GPS receiver to work adequately, its active element antenna must be oriented in alignment with the earth's surface. That is, the active element should be parallel to the earth's surface when the GPS receiver is operational. With a hand-held unit, the user can simply orient the antenna in parallel alignment with the earth's surface.
However, in many other applications, it is not always practical to realign the antenna with respect to the earth's surface. For example, in GPS antennas which are mounted into vehicles, it is not possible to continually reposition the antenna. Thus, in many vehicular mounted systems, as the vehicle goes up and down hills for example, the alignment between the antenna and the earth is lost, degrading the performance of the GPS receiver.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a GPS antenna which maintains its alignment with the earth's surface.

Self-aligning global positioning system antenna


The invention relates to derivatives of pyrroloquinazolinediamine, more specifically derivatives of 7-(substituted)-7H-pyrrolo[3,2-F] quinazoline-1,3-diamines that are non-toxic and are also effective in the treatment of malaria, including P. falciparum and P. vivax strains. The derivatives are certain carbamate derivatives, succinimide derivatives, alkylcarboxamides derivatives and acetamide derivative, phthalimides, alkylamines and all other amide and imide derivatives and their 1-hydroxy analogs. The derivatives of the present invention are also soluble in common organic solvents to facilitate the purification in a large scale synthesis of the composition.

1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to new compounds that are useful for the treatment of malaria. The compounds of the invention are pyrroloquinazolinediamine derivatives, namely alkyl derivatives, carbamate derivatives, succinimide derivatives, alkylcarboxamides derivatives, including acetamide, phthalimide, and all other amide and imide derivatives of the parent compound 1 and their analogs that are effective and less toxic for treatment of malaria, including but not limited to P. falciparum and P. vivax strains.
2 Brief Description of Related Art
The current global situation with respect to malaria indicates that about two billion people are exposed to the disease. Each year between 100 to 200 million new cases of infection are reported and approximately 1 to 2 million people die due to malaria [1, 2]. US ground troops suffered high percentage of casualties by malaria infection during the Vietnam War and recently among British and US soldiers deployed in Somalia, Africa [3]. The situation of malaria control is rapidly worsening mainly due to non-availability of effective drugs and development of drug resistance to the existing first line drugs [4, 5]. Furthermore, the usefulness of many newer antimalarial drugs was impaired by their side effects. Lethal hemolysis side effect was observed in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient recipients of 8-aminoquinoline drugs [6] (primaquine and tafenoquine) and CNS toxicity was problematic in the patients treated with mefloquine [7]. Therefore, there is an eminent need for new and safe antimalarial compounds to combat these parasites in the epidemic areas of the world.
Pyrroloquinazolinediamine derivatives were reported to possess anticancer, antimicrobial and antimalarial activities (See Ledig, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,561) [8]. Among the derivatives, WR227825 (1) is one of the most potent antimalarial agents ever reported [9]. This compound displayed not only high in vitro efficacy against P. falciparum with IC50˜0.01 ng/ml but also highly active against P. berghei in rodent model, with 100% curative oral dose between <0.1 to 4 mg/kg. However, Ledig, et al. WR227825 also exhibited high host toxicity, with subcutaneous LD50 in mice at less than 20 mg/kg and produced deaths in Aotus monkey at doses less than 2 mg/kg [10]. The low therapeutic index of compound 1 has severely limited its value as an antimalarial agent. Nevertheless, the high efficacy and low therapeutic index of Ledig, et al., WR227825 make this compound an ideal lead for optimization to fabricate new derivatives with improvement in therapeutic index or deficiencies in preclinical/pharmacological profiles.
In addition to high host toxicity, the lead compound 1 is sparingly soluble in common organic solvents and water, a highly undesirable physical property for large scale synthesis and purification.

What is needed is a composition that is effective against both drug sensitive and multi-drug resistant strains of malaria, especially P. falciparum and P. vivax and is substantially less toxic than WR 227825 so that it can be used safely in humans. What is also needed is a composition that is soluble in common organic solvents to facilitate the purification in a large scale synthesis of the composition. The parent compound 1 is sparingly soluble in either water or common organic solvents, which is a challenging problem to overcome during its large scale preparation.
The present invention solves the toxicity problems of the prior art by providing novel derivatives of WR227825 that have been found by the inventors to be substantially less toxic and more soluble in organic solvents than WR227825.

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of pyrrolo[3,2-f]quinazoline-1,3-diamine derivatives

United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


In this fuel cell vehicle, a radiator, a protruding region of a casing, and a connecting bar of a fuel cell stack are arranged in a front box in the listed order from the front toward the rear in the direction in which the vehicle travels. A first end plate and a second end plate are fixed directly on a frame member via mounting members, and the frame member is fixed to a vehicle body frame. After an external load has been transmitted from the radiator and the protruding region of the casing to the first end plate and the second end plate, the external load is transmitted to the vehicle body frame via a side frame.

For example, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell employs a polymer ion exchange membrane as an electrolyte membrane, and the electrolyte membrane is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly make up a power generation cell. In the fuel cell of this type, in use, typically, a predetermined number of the power generation cells are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack mounted in a vehicle.
In a fuel cell vehicle equipped with the fuel cell stack, for example, when an impact (external load) from the front side is applied to the fuel cell stack, it is required to protect components of the fuel cell stack or the like.
For this purpose, for example, an electric vehicle disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-137443 is known. In the electric vehicle, as shown in FIG. 10, a space inside a motor room 1 is divided into an upper space and a lower space by a base panel 2. Though not shown, a traction motor as a rotary electric machine and an air compressor are placed in the lower space of the motor room 1, and a fuel cell stack 3 and a power control unit (PCU) 4 are placed in the upper space of the motor room 1.
Further, the motor room 1 includes a dash panel 5a provided at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a pair of fender side inner panels 5b provided on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle, and the motor room 1 is formed into a frame shape as a whole.
The base panel 2 includes a flat plate section 2a having a substantially flat plate shape in a horizontal direction, and a curved plate section 2b connected to a front end of the flat plate section 2a and which is curved to get lower toward the front side in order to avoid a radiator 6 positioned on the upper side.
An upper front end surface, which is an end of the curved plate section 2b on the opposite side of the vehicle compartment, is directly joined/fixed to the lower edge of a front side lower frame 5c by welding or the like. The front side lower frame 5c is provided at the front end of the vehicle, and the front side lower frame 5c is joined to the lower front ends of the pair of fender side inner panels 5b so as to bridge a space between the lower front ends in the vehicle width direction. Further, upper front ends of the pair of fender side inner panels 5b are coupled by an upper front panel (not shown) provided at the front end of the vehicle.
Further, a rear end of the flat plate section 2a (i.e., an end closer to the vehicle compartment in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle) is directly joined/fixed to the front surface of the dash panel 5a by welding or the like in the horizontal direction. Both ends of the flat plate section 2a in the width direction of the vehicle are directly joined/fixed to respective inner surfaces of the pair of fender side inner panels 5b in the width direction by welding or the like in the horizontal direction. The rear end and both ends in the width direction of the flat plate section 2a are directly connected to the dash panel 5a and the fender side inner panels 5b substantially without any gaps therebetween or with some gaps therebetween.
According to the disclosure, in the electric vehicle having the structure, as described above, for example, in the case where an external force is applied from the outside in a direction indicated by an arrow α by a collision or the like, the external force can be borne cooperatively by members including the base panel 2. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily prevent an excessive force from being applied to the members of the vehicle body. Even in the case where the base panel 2 is collapsed, it is possible to easily prevent a large force from being externally applied to components in the motor room 1, such as components placed on the base panel 2 (e.g., the fuel cell stack 3 or the like), and effectively prevent damages to the components.


A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a sealant, a plurality of spacers, and a display medium layer. The first substrate has a pixel array and a peripheral circuit. The sealant, the spacers, and the display medium layer are disposed between the first and the second substrate. The pixel array is surrounded by the sealant and located on a portion of the peripheral circuit. A multi-layer conductive wiring structure is disposed in the region of the peripheral circuit covered with the sealant. The multi-layer conductive wiring structure includes first and second conductive wirings. The second conductive wirings are connected to the pixel array via the first conductive wirings. An extending direction of the first conductive wirings is substantially different from that of the second conductive wirings. The spacers are distributed at two opposite sides of the sealant and respectively located between two adjacent first conductive wirings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electro-optical apparatus and, more particularly relates to a display panel.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional display panel. Referring to FIG. 1A, the display panel 110 includes a first substrate 120, a second substrate 130, a sealant 140, a plurality of ball spacers 150 (only one is shown in FIG. 1A), and a display medium layer 160. The first substrate 120 has a pixel array 120a and a peripheral circuit 120b connected to the pixel array 120a. The second substrate 130 is disposed above the first substrate 120. The sealant 140 is disposed between the first substrate 120 and the second substrate 130, and located on a portion of the peripheral circuit 120b. A conductive wiring structure 122 is disposed in the region of the peripheral circuit 120b covered with the sealant 140. The ball spacers 150 are disposed inside the sealant 140, for maintaining a gap g′ between the first substrate 120 and the second substrate 130.
As shown in FIG. 1A, an insulating layer PV′ is covered on the conductive wiring structure 122 for protecting the conductive wiring structure 122. In detail, as the sealant 140 contains water vapour and/or solvent, the conductive wiring structure 122 if directly contacting the sealant 140 may get corroded. Further, since the ball spacers 150 are rigid, the insulating layer PV′ disposed between the ball spacers 150 and the conductive wiring structure 122 may produce certain buffering effect, so as to reduce the external force applied on the conductive wiring structure 122.
In order to reduce the area of the peripheral circuit, the display panel is designed in the trend of slim border. However, as the area of the peripheral circuit gets narrower, the layout space of the conductive wiring structure is increasingly reduced. Therefore, the above conductive wiring structure of a single conductive layer is changed to be formed by double conductive layers, as shown in FIG. 1B.
FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of another conventional display panel. Referring to FIG. 1B, the display panel 110′ is similar to the display panel 110 in FIG. 1A, i.e., the ball spacers 150 are still disposed in the sealant 140. The main difference between the display panels in FIGS. 1A and 1B lies in that the conductive wiring structure in the display panel 110′ is a multi-layer conductive wiring structure 122′ constituted by the first conductive wirings 122a and the second conductive wirings 122b. An insulating layer GI′ is disposed between the first conductive wirings 122a and the second conductive wirings 122b so as to prevent the first conductive wirings 122a from being electrically connected to the second conductive wirings 122b. Another insulating layer PV′ is covered on the second conductive wirings 122b for protecting the second conductive wirings 122b.
Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 1B, though the multi-layer conductive wiring structure 122′ is protected by the insulating layer PV′ covered thereabove, the ball spacers 150 may still damage the insulating layer PV′ under an excessive external force, and may even damage the multi-layer conductive wiring structure 122′ below the insulating layer PV′.

Display panel and electro-optical apparatus


A method of manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor, including: a step (A) of providing a conjugated conductive polymer-containing dispersion by polymerizing, in a dispersion medium containing seed particles turned into protective colloid by a polyanion or in a dispersion medium containing the polyanion, a monomer for obtaining a conjugated conductive polymer; a step (B) of preparing a dispersion containing a morpholine compound and the conjugated conductive polymer by adding the morpholine compound to the conjugated conductive polymer-containing dispersion; a step (C) of causing the dispersion to adhere to a porous anode body formed of a valve metal having a dielectric film on a surface thereof; and a step (D) of forming a solid electrolyte layer by removing the dispersion medium from the dispersion containing the morpholine compound and the conjugated conductive polymer, the dispersion adhering to the porous anode body.

A solid electrolytic capacitor is manufactured by forming a dielectric oxide film on the surface of a metal through anodization and bringing a solid electrolyte into contact with the resultant. A solid electrolytic capacitor using a conductive polymer as the solid electrolyte has been proposed.
Known examples of the metal to be coated with the dielectric oxide film through the anodization include aluminum, tantalum, and niobium.
In addition, conjugated conductive polymers, such as polythiophene, polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyacetylene, polyphenylene, poly(p-phenylene-vinylene), polyacene, polythiophene vinylene, and derivatives thereof, have each been known as the conductive polymer to be used in the solid electrolytic capacitor. In addition, a technology involving using a polyanion such as a polystyrene sulfonic acid as a counter anion of the conjugated conductive polymer to dope the conjugated conductive polymer with the polyanion has been known.
The solid electrolyte is generally formed on a dielectric oxide film formed on the surface of a metal having a valve action by subjecting a monomer solution for obtaining a conductive polymer and an oxidant solution to chemical oxidative polymerization or electrolytic polymerization. In addition, a method including applying an aqueous solution or suspension of a conductive polymer to form a solid electrolyte has been proposed.
In, for example, JP 2003-100561 A (Patent Literature 1), there is a disclosure of a manufacturing method including the steps of: impregnating a capacitor element with a conductive polymer-dispersed aqueous solution having dispersed therein fine particles of a conductive polymer to form a first solid electrolyte layer; and impregnating the surface of the first solid electrolyte layer with a solution containing a heterocyclic monomer and a solution containing an oxidant individually, or impregnating the surface with a mixed solution containing the heterocyclic monomer and the oxidant, to form a second solid electrolyte layer.
In JP 2005-109252 A (Patent Literature 2), there is a disclosure of a method including: chemically polymerizing a polymerizable monomer to form a solid electrolyte layer formed of a conductive polymer on a capacitor element in which a dielectric oxide film is formed on the surface of a sintered body obtained by sintering valve metal powder; and then immersing the capacitor element in a conductive polymer solution, or applying the conductive polymer solution to the element, followed by drying, to further form a conductive polymer layer in a thick manner on the conductive polymer layer formed through the chemical polymerization.
In JP 2011-510141 A (U.S. Pat. No. 8,721,928 B2) (Patent Literature 3), there is a proposal of the following process. To impregnate a conductive polymer into a capacitor, a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT-PSS) dispersion is reduced in viscosity, and the PEDOT-PSS is polymerized by using ultrasonic irradiation.
In WO 2014/163202 A1 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,640,325 B2) (Patent Literature 4), there are disclosures of: a method in which a solid electrolytic capacitor excellent in capacitor characteristics can be manufactured with high productivity through a step of polymerizing, in a dispersion medium containing a monomer for obtaining a conjugated conductive polymer and seed particles turned into protective colloid by a polyanion, the monomer to provide a conjugated conductive polymer-containing dispersion; and a solid electrolytic capacitor. The solid electrolytic capacitor uses the conductive polymer, and hence has the following features. The capacitor has a low equivalent series resistance (ESR) and an excellent frequency characteristic, and changes in characteristics of the capacitor by a temperature change are small. In recent years, a solid electrolytic capacitor has been expected to be applied to a site where a temperature around a circuit tends to increase, such as an inverter power supply or an on-board unit, and hence improvements in high-temperature stability and high-temperature reliability of the solid electrolytic capacitor have been problems.

Method for manufacturing solid electrolytic capacitor


A plate conveyor for moving walkways contains a track system having tracks, which track system is formed by track elements, and a central track serving as a guide for plate conveyor elements of the plate conveyor. The length of the track system can be adjusted. For this purpose, substantially triangular openings which are delimited by bars are provided between track elements that adjoin one another. Triangular or trapezoidal length adjusting pieces are inserted into the openings and are pushed in to such an extent that the oblique edges of the length adjusting pieces abut the edges of the openings formed by the bars. The central tracks of the track elements that adjoin one another are connected to one another by coupling pieces.

The invention relates to a plate conveyor belt having the features of the introductory part of the independent claim.
Such plate conveyor belts are used for moving walkways.
The use of conveying means such as conveyor belts and escalators has already been known since about the year 1900 from department stores in London and New York. The drive of these conveying means, even from the start, comprised at least one gear wheel, driven via a gearbox, which engages in chain links. Flat conveying elements or stair elements of the conveying means, which are guided in circulation in an endless loop, are connected to the chain links. Persons, packages, boxes and so on, for example, are transported over a horizontal distance and possibly up or down on the conveying elements or the stair elements. Examples of such continuous movement means and their drives are shown by DE 2 252 134 A1, WO 03/066 500 A1, EP 0 013 793 A1 and DE 1 456 375 A1.
Moving walkways and escalators are known which do not only run over straight distances, but also those which lead around curves, that is to say have curved sections.
It is also possible that moving walkways do not just lead in horizontal planes but also uphill or downhill, with curved transitions between rising or falling sections and horizontal planes. Even in escalators, a transition is made between a rising or falling transport plane and a horizontal transport plane. If mention is made of a transport plane in the following, both horizontal planes and also rising or falling planes and their transitions to horizontal planes are understood.
When moving walkways comprising plate conveyor belts are produced, the length of the moving walkway is determined by the actual length of the plate conveyor belt which comprises the interconnected plate conveyor elements, wherein the length of the moving walkway can be produced only in the steps predefined by the length of the plate conveyor elements. The length of the tracks on which the plate conveyor elements are guided must then be matched to the length of the plate conveyor belt, which always corresponds to a multiple of the length of an individual plate conveyor element.
Matching the length of the tracks to the actual length of the plate conveyor belt is a problem, in particular when plate conveyor belts have curves. Different curve radii and curve forms lead to the length of the tracks deviating from the actual length of the plate conveyor belt, wherein this deviation has to be compensated for onsite following the construction of the tracks.


A system for continuously processing PTFE by irradiation and grinding includes a processing vessel having first and second horizontally adjacent agitators in first and second transversely adjacent vessel portions. The bottom of the vessel has a step between the portions whereat heated air is injected for agitating and grinding the PTFE.

This invention relates to processes for irradiating and grinding PTFE to reduce the molecular weight and render the material grindable to a fine particle powder, which can be used as a dry lubricant in paint and ink.
An early description of irradiation of PTFE is contained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,031 to Dillon. According to this patent material was placed in trays and subjected to irradiation.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,748,005 and 4,777,192, which are owned by the assignee of the present invention, discloses commercial batch processing of PTFE wherein, the material is placed in a ribbon blender and wherein electron beam radiation is directed into a portion of the blender while the material is agitated by the blender. The blender is provided with cooling either by a water jacket or by direct injection of water into the vessel. The ribbon blender is operated to continuously move the material into and out of the irradiation zone, thereby to achieve uniform irradiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,727 discloses a processing vessel which includes two vessel portions, each having a paddle blender agitator. Air is injected into the process material to promote cooling, coupled with simultaneous irradiation and grinding. An air classifier is used to draw airborne fine particle PTFE from the vessel for recovery. U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,113 discloses a similar system wherein the agitation is provided by use of injected high pressure air, and wherein material in continuously fed to the processing vessel and extracted by an air classifier to achieve a continuous process.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for processing PTFE.
According to the invention an improvement is provided in an apparatus including a processing vessel for processing PTFE by irradiation and grinding. According to the invention the vessel includes transversely horizontally adjacent first and second vessel portions having corresponding first and second agitators arranged for rotation about a longitudinal axis. The inner floor of the vessel has a step between the first and second vessel portions, so that the inner floor of the first vessel portion is lower than the inner floor of the second vessel portion. A plurality of air nozzles are provided for injecting air toward the first vessel portion, the nozzles being mounted on a substantially vertical portion of the step.
In a preferred arrangement the first agitator rotates in a direction against the direction of air from the air nozzles in the lower part of the first vessel portion. Preferably the second agitator is arranged for rotation about its longitudinal axis in the same rotational direction as the first agitator, so that the agitators move in opposite directions relative to each other at the center of the vessel. The transverse outer wall of the second vessel portion can be cylindrical and have an interior space less than one inch from the periphery of the second agitator. An electron beam source can be arranged for irradiating PTFE material at the top of the second vessel portion.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided apparatus for preparing scrap PTFE for processing and for supplying the PTFE to a processing vessel. The apparatus includes a chopper for cutting scrap PTFE into granular chips, a blender for receiving the chips from the chopper and for agitating the chips to promote flow, and a conveyor for receiving the chips from an outlet of the blender and for carrying the chips toward the processing vessel.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided an improved process for irradiating and grinding PTFE in a processing vessel. According to the improved process, pressurized air at a temperature of 400 to 700xc2x0 F. is injected into the vessel for grinding the PTFE, and the processing vessel open to admit ambient air drawn into the vessel in a volume 2 to 5 times the volume of the pressurized air.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Continuous process for irradiating of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)


A mechanic's creeper (10) includes a pad (12) supported between a plurality of side rails (14) by a plurality of crossbars (15). The side rails (14) are of tear-shaped cross section such that no sharp edges are provided adjacent to the pad (12) held between the side rails (14). The pad (12), side rails (14), and crossbars (15) are held off the ground by a plurality of caster assemblies (20). The caster assemblies (20) are connected only to the bottom surface (16) of the side rails (14) such that no protrusion is created on the top surface (17) of the side rails (14). Specifically, each of the caster assemblies (20) is connected to an associated side rail (14) by a rivet nut (54) that communicates only with the bottom surface (16) of side rail (14). The caster assemblies (20) further include rolling elements (24, 26) and bearing races (32, 34) that allow the caster assemblies (20) to rotate about the axis of a kingpin (42). The kingpin (42) retains the various elements of the caster assemblies (20) in an operative relation. Additionally, the lateral extent of side rails (14) is such that the top race (32) lies wholly within the vertical profile of its associated side rail (14). An improved wheel design for a caster assembly is also provided, wherein the wheel (140) provides a rounded radial surface (160) to lessen the amount of surface area contact between the radial surface (160) and the surface upon which the wheel (140) rests.

Mechanic's creepers are in wide-spread use, however, it has been found that the common, prior art mechanic's creeper design can be improved in a number of ways. Currently, mechanic's creepers are designed with side rails usually of rectangular or square cross section. The side rails thus provide sharp edges that lie adjacent to the padding held between the side rails. Because the padding sections provided between the side rails are not normally as wide as the breadth of the shoulders of the typical user, the sharp edges can often present a discomfort to the user.
Also, the casters on the typical mechanic's creeper are attached to the side rails in such a way as to provide protrusions on the top surface of the side rails. These protrusions can be an additional source of discomfort to the user because they are likely to snag and tear the user's clothing and scratch the user's body. More specifically, in mechanic's creepers of the prior art, the casters are attached to the side rails by means of a caster-carrying stud that is inserted through both the top and bottom walls of the side rail and secured by a nut threaded thereon. The remainder of the caster assembly is thereby positioned below the side rail and a bolt-head protrusion is undesirably located on the top surface of the side rail.
The width of the side rails in mechanic's creepers of the prior art relative to the diameter of the caster raceways needed to support the creeper also presents problems. Prior art mechanic's creeper designs incorporate caster assemblies having bearing races that are of larger diameter than the width of the side rails such that a portion of the bearing race extends beyond the sides of the side rails. As such, the portion of the bearing race which extends beyond the side rails is susceptible to being bumped or otherwise contacted, which could readily loosen or otherwise damage the caster assembly. Moreover, since the bearing race does not fully engage the side rail all the way around the race, the rocking forces born by the caster assemblies as the mechanic's creeper is utilized create weaknesses in the caster assemblies. For instance, the nuts securing the bolts through the side rails tend to loosen due to the torque placed upon the stem of the bolt as the creeper is moved and the caster assemblies roll and change directions. Moreover, adverse forces on the caster stems may well cause a shearing of these stems. In addition, because the bearing races do not completely engage the side rails, the weight placed upon the mechanic's creeper (i.e., the weight of the user's body) is not evenly distributed to the bearing race and the bearings therein. This increases the wearing of the bearings and therefore shortens the useful life of the caster assemblies and the mechanic's creeper as a whole.
The wheels used in the caster assemblies of prior art mechanic's creepers are also in need of improvement. In the prior art, the wheels of a mechanic's creeper generally contact the ground with a wide, flat bottom surface area. This design maximizes the amount of friction between the wheel surface and the ground surface on which the creeper rests. Mechanic's creepers are designed to be capable of moving in any direction and, thus, excessive friction between the caster wheels and the ground surface is counterproductive to the mobility of the mechanic's creeper.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for a mechanic's creeper design that provides a more comfortable, contoured fit for the user when lying down on the pads held between the side rails. Additionally, there exists a need in the art for a mechanic's creeper in which the caster assemblies are attached to the side rails without creating any protrusions on the top surface of the side rails and which also attach in a manner that prevents wear and tear to the bearings and the bearing races such as encountered with current mechanic's creeper designs. A need in the art also exists for employing an improved wheel design in the caster assemblies of mechanic's creepers.


A natural spinal disk including adjacent vertebral structures is removed from a deceased donor, rinsed in normal saline, preserved in a cryopreservative solution, and then frozen by gradually decreasing the temperature using liquid nitrogen or similar method. The implant may be thawed in normal saline solution and then implanted in a patient in need of a vertebral disk replacement.

Intervertebral disks provide mobility and a shock cushion between the vertebrae. Anatomically, a disk includes the nucleus pulposus in the center, which is composed of cells and an insoluble extracellular matrix which is produced by the nucleus itself. The extracellular matrix is composed of collagen, proteoglycans, and water. The nucleus pulposus is surrounded by the annulus fibrosis, which is also composed of cells (fibrocyte and chondrocyte), collagen fibers, and an extracellular matrix. The endplates are attached to the bony tissue, the vertebrae.
To date, there are a few treatments for degenerative disk disease. Spinal fusion has been widely used to obtain mechanical support and stability in various clinical situations, such as degenerative disk disease or infective and malignant conditions that induce spinal instability. Although results are satisfactory in most cases, long term complications, such as adjacent-segment degeneration, have been reported and remain an issue. The mechanism of this degeneration is still unclear. Cadaver studies demonstrated increasing intradisk pressures in the adjacent unfused intervertebral disks after a simulated spinal fusion. Retrospective clinical analysis suggested that the risk of adjacent-segment failure is higher for patients in whom lumbar fusion with rigid instrumentation is performed. A few studies indicate that the altered mechanical environment after short rigid spinal fusion lead to the accelerated adjacent segment degeneration.
To avoid altering the biomechanical function of the intervertebral joint, efforts have been made to develop an artificial disk, as reported a few issued patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,958,078, 6,989,032, and 6,692,495 (all incorporated by reference herein)). Some of the difficulties with such developments include implant fixation, biocompatibility, and the identification of suitable materials and designs, which duplicate both form and function. Clinically, devices that replace a total disk exhibit certain weaknesses. Total disk replacements rely on attachments of the artificial disk to the vertebral endplates. Various methods of attachment have been described including the use of screws, spikes, and porous ingrowth material. The total disk/vertebral interface can loosen due to non-natural biomaterials. The problems with prosthesis loosening and revision surgery of the same are reported to be similar to that encountered with total knee and hip replacement surgery. As such, the long term outcomes of total replacement by artificial disks are still under review.
The desired treatment for degenerative disk disease therefore lies in treatment which preserves natural disk function. If disk function could be restored with biologic natural disk replacement, the weaknesses of current artificial disk replacement would be minimized, if not eliminated.

Method for preparing and preserving a natural allograft intervertebral disk for humans


Systems and methods of processing financial transaction information are provided. In one embodiment, a financial institution runs an index generating software program to generate a downloadable index of images of cleared checks. The account customer uses complementary software to remotely download, search, and display the index of cleared check images, together with the images themselves. In another embodiment, the financial institution periodically runs a software program to generate digital archives of the cleared check images for the account customer. The account customer is provided with secure online access to the digital archives. The account customer may use standard financial bookkeeping software to download and display the cleared check images and associate the cleared check images with transactions in the associated account registers.

For well over a decade, individuals and small businesses have had access to financial software packages, such as the Intuit Corporation's Quicken® software, to electronically store information about financial transactions. For much of that time, software has been available to download financial transaction information from financial institutions. Many financial institutions have made check images available to customers online. The check images can be copied or downloaded onto the computer of the customer. Those downloads, however, typically failed to reveal the payee named on the check, requiring software users to keep separate records—such as carbon copies of the checks—of the check number and payee, and then to manually enter such information into their financial transaction tracking software. Recently, it has been possible to download text information from credit cards and bank accounts into applications like Quicken and Quickbooks.
Also, existing financial software packages inadequately prepare taxpayers for an audit. During an audit, revenue officials often demand copies of cancelled or processed checks. But existing financial software packages lack any means for capturing and storing images of the processed checks and linking the images to a data file containing the key information on the checks. One known method of providing customers with check information has been to copy the information onto a CD-Rom and mail it to the customer. Because of the large size of the daily or monthly transactions, the downloading of statements and check images has not been simple and in many cases has not been practical.
Therefore, there is a long felt, but unmet meet, for improved financial transaction systems that are capable of automatically incorporating check image data, reducing the burdens of manual entry of payee information, or both by supplying the information in usable digital form.
There is also a need for system and software tools for capturing, organizing, and perusing financial transaction information, including the check images. Financial institutions such as banks, credit unions, and saving and loan institutions are currently spending large amounts of money to store or scan and archive images of the billions of cancelled checks, deposit slips, and other financial documents that they process every year. Some of these institutions mail copies of cancelled checks to their customers at great expense. The check images can also be downloaded. To reduce those expenses, others make their customers' account information, including check and deposit slip images, available to their customers online. The account information has also been made available on CD-Roms.
The customers of these financial institutions, however, have no efficient way of making a permanent record and searchable archive of the cancelled check or deposit slip images. Instead, such customers are typically required to open each check image individually, one at a time, and print or locally save the check image. For high-transaction-volume customers, this is an exceedingly time-consuming exercise. Needless to say, there is a substantial need for an efficient method of making a permanent and searchable database of a customer's check and deposit slip images.


A hearing device and an associated method are provided. The hearing device includes a behind-the-ear part and an in-the-ear part that are connected to one another by a connecting element. The behind-the-ear part has a switching element arranged to be functionally connected to the connecting element such that at least two switching positions of the switching element can be engaged by a movement of the connecting element.

Hearing devices with a behind-the-ear part and an in-the-ear part are to become smaller and smaller, are to be water-tight and are additionally to have a pleasant outer appearance. Furthermore the switching positions "on" and "off" of an on/off switch on the hearing device must also be easily distinguishable for older people so that known push-button switches are not considered here. Thus the integration of an on/off switch in a small hearing device is challenging from a design perspective.
A hearing device having a relatively large on/off switch in the form of a rotary switch attached to the behind-the-ear part with a switching lug is known from the patent specification DE 198 52 758 C2.

Hearing device with on/off switch and associated method