A multi-layer sliding part is prepared by a process including mixing 1–50 parts by volume of a Cu-plated solid lubricant powder with 100 parts by volume of a Cu-based alloy powder comprising 5–20 mass % of Sn and a remainder of Cu to form a mixed powder, sintering the mixed powder in a reducing atmosphere to form a sintered mass, pulverizing the sintered mass to form a powder, dispersing the powder formed by pulverizing on a metal backing plate, and sintering the dispersed powder to bond grains of the dispersed powder to each other and to the backing plate. After sintering of the pulverized powder to form bearing metal layer, the bearing metal layer is pressed and densified. After densification, the bearing metal layer is annealed, again pressed, and then coated with a resin having good sliding properties.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lead-free multi-layer sliding part and to a method for its manufacture. Examples of a sliding part according to the present invention are a cylindrical sliding part such as a bushing for use in a radial sliding bearing (also called a journal bearing) and a planar sliding part for use as a swash plate in a compressor, pump, or hydraulic motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sliding bearings are often made of a multi-layer sliding material comprising a backing plate of steel and a layer of a bearing metal bonded to the backing plate in order to increase the strength of the bearings so that they can withstand high loads.
Methods for joining a bearing metal layer to a steel backing plate include the cladding method, the casting method, the flame coating method, and the powder metallurgy method.
In the cladding method, the bonding strength between the bearing metal and the steel backing plate is relatively low, so when a high load is applied to a sliding bearing made from such a multi-layer material, there are cases in which the bearing metal layer peels off the steel backing plate.
In the casting method, a molten bearing metal is cast atop a steel backing plate. Although a bearing metal layer formed by the casting method has a strong bonding strength to the steel backing plate, this method is very troublesome to perform, and at the time of casting of the molten bearing metal, oxides can be included or shrinkage cavities can form, and these may have an adverse effect on bearing properties.
In the flame coating method, a molten bearing metal is blown against a steel backing plate by a high pressure gas, and due to its kinetic energy, the bearing metal burrows into the steel backing plate to form a bearing metal layer. The bearing metal forms a mechanical bond with the backing plate rather than a metallurgical bond, so the bonding strength between the bearing metal layer and the backing plate may be inadequate, and there are cases in which the bearing metal layer peels off the backing plate during use.
In the powder metallurgy method, a bearing metal in the form of a powder is dispersed on a steel backing plate and is sintered to join the grains of powder to each other and to the backing plate. A multi-layer material which is obtained by the powder metallurgy method has a strong bonding strength between the sintered bearing metal layer and the steel backing plate, and the sintering temperature can be made low, so there are few thermal effects on the steel backing plate or the bearing metal such as can occur with the casting method.
The materials which have been most commonly used to form a bearing metal layer of a multi-layer sliding bearing have been Cu-based alloys such as lead bronze, phosphor bronze, and high strength brass.
Lead bronze has good bearing properties, but it is a potential source of environmental pollution. When equipment containing a multi-layer bearing is discarded, the bearing is usually disposed of by burial underground, since the bearing metal layer and the steel backing plate cannot be readily separated from each other and so cannot be easily recycled. If a multi-layer bearing containing lead bronze which has been disposed of in a landfill is contacted by acid rain, lead may be dissolved from the bearing metal layer by the acid rain and may pollute underground water. If underground water which has been polluted by lead in this manner enters the water supply and is drunk for long periods by humans or livestock, the lead accumulates in the body and may cause lead poisoning. For this reason, the disposal of lead-containing materials is being increasingly regulated, and there is a trend in industry away from the use of lead-containing materials such as lead bronze for bearing metal layers of sliding bearings.
Phosphor bronze and high strength brass do not contain lead, but their sliding or bearing properties may not be adequate when they are subjected to high instantaneous loads, such as are applied to a swash plate of a compressor or hydraulic motor at the start of operation. As a result, these materials are more susceptible to seizing.
When a sliding part made of a multi-layer sliding material having a bearing metal layer bonded to a steel backing plate is manufactured by the powder metallurgy method, it is thought to be possible to improve the sliding properties of the bearing metal layer by incorporating a solid lubricant into the bearing metal layer. For this purpose, a powder of a bearing metal is mixed with a powder of a solid lubricant, such as graphite or molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and the mixed powder is used to form the bearing metal layer by sintering.
However, such a sliding part having a sintered bearing metal layer containing a solid lubricant has the problem that the bearing metal layer may be cracked by an impact when subjected to a high load, thereby causing the bearing metal layer to peel off partly or completely or to wear out prematurely, leading to the occurrence of seizing.
JP-A 55-134102 (1980) describes forming a bearing by sintering of a mixture of metal powders and a Cu-plated solid lubricant powder. According to the technique disclosed therein, metal powders (such as Cu powder and Sn powder) which form a bearing metal are mixed with a Cu-plated solid lubricant powder (such as Cu-plated graphite powder or Cu-plated molybdenum disulfide powder). The powder mixture is subjected to cold or hot pressing in a mold and then sintered to form a Cu-based sintered bearing. The sintered body may be machined so as to form a bore and obtain a cylindrical bearing. However, this sintered bearing exhibits large variations in bearing properties, and if it is used as a bearing metal layer of a multi-layer bearing, its mechanical strength is too low for it to be used as a bushing for construction equipment on which a very high load is exerted. The use of Cu-plated graphite to form a sintered bearing material is also described in JP-A 05-248441 (1993).
The present inventors investigated the problems of conventional multi-layer sliding parts, such as sliding bearings, in order to provide a lead-free multi-layer sliding part in which these problems are eliminated or alleviated, and found the following.
The reason for the seizing which is encountered with a bearing made of phosphor bronze and high strength brass is that these bearing metals do not have good lubricity in the absence of a solid lubricant.
A bearing metal layer containing a solid lubricant formed by sintering a powder mixture of a bearing metal and a solid lubricant on a steel backing plate has improved lubricity, but it undergoes cracking and peeling because the particles of solid lubricant do not metallically bond to either the bearing metal or to the steel backing plate, so the bearing metal layer formed by sintering has poor bonding strength.
This problem can be alleviated to some extent by employing the technique disclosed in JP-A 55-134102 (1980), i.e., by plating the solid lubricant powder with copper and using the resulting Cu-plated solid lubricant powder to form a lubricant-containing bearing metal layer by sintering, since the Cu-plated solid lubricant powder can metallically bond to the bearing metal. However, according to the technique disclosed therein, various powders including a Cu powder, a Sn powder, and a Cu-plated solid lubricant powder are used to form a powder mixture to be sintered, and due to the differences in specific gravity of these powders, it is difficult to form a uniform mixture by mechanical mixing, and this results in a fluctuation in the bearing properties of the resulting sintered bearing layer. In addition, the mechanical strength of the sintered bearing metal layer is not sufficient to withstand a very high load. There is no bonding between the steel backing plate and the sintered bearing metal layer.

Multi-layer sliding part and a method for its manufacture


The present invention automatically and continuously packs women's sanitary products, paper diapers, and the like in a sealed manner and is installed in toilets of hotels, public toilets, and the like used by general public.

A trash box described in, for example, a non-patent document 1 works in a mechanism such that a cylindrical bag is held in a cassette in the trash box, trashes are pushed down by a hand to a position lower than an arrangement position of a heater, and a lever disposed outside the trash box is manually operated so that the heater melts the bag by its heat, thereby sealingly packing the trashes such as paper diapers and sanitary products one by one separately. Such a trash box has advantages that there is little smell leakage and the trashes in the trash box can be finally disposed of in a sanitary manner since the trashes are sealingly packed one by one.
[Non-patent Document 1] http://www.greenlife-web.co.jp, home page of Green Life, "ELECTRICAL SMELL SEAL-IN TRASH BOX"
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-247401
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2586224
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2586215
[Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent No. 2543562
[Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent No. 3287929
[Patent Document 6] Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. Hei 3-9302
However, the trash box described in the non-patent document 1 has the following problem. Firstly, in order for the trash to be sealingly packed in the bag, the trash has to be pushed down by a hand to the position lower than the arrangement position of the heater, which is troublesome. In addition, manual work of operating the lever disposed outside the trash box is necessary for packing the trashes one by one after the trashes are pushed down by a hand, which needs a lot of trouble. Naturally, with the increase in amount of the trashes, a work volume accordingly increases, which cannot be said to be efficient.
Further, for home use, a user does not feel it unsanitary to push the trash and manually operate the lever as described above, but if the trash box is installed in toilets of hotels, public toilets of stations, and the like, it is highly possible that a user gets an unsanitary feeling and avoids these works. Therefore, the trash box described above is not suited for public toilets and the like used by general public.
Further, the patent documents 1 to 5 disclose arts in which a film formed in a cylindrical shape in advance is used and each trash is sealingly packed by twisting film portions positioned between adjacent trashes. However, similarly to that in the non-patent document 1, these trash boxes also require the work of pushing down trashes one by one, which is troublesome.
On the other hand, the patent document 6 discloses a sanitary container in which a trash is put between films fed from film feed rollers facing each other and operation sticks are used to bring the films into close contact with each other in portions ahead of and behind the trash. However, the patent document 6 does not disclose any means for bringing side edges of the films into close contact with each other. The two operation sticks disclosed in the patent document 6 cannot bring the side edges of the two films facing each other into close contact with each other while sandwiching a trash. In order to prevent smell leakage, trash boxes of this type use films for sealingly packing trashes, but that disclosed in the patent document 6 cannot prevent the smell leakage.
Moreover, in all of the non-patent document 1 and the patent documents 1 to 5, the trash is sealingly packed only by bringing the film portions positioned around the trash into close contact with each other, so that air remains between the trash and the films when the trash is stored in the trash storage part. If the air remains therebetween, an amount of trashes stored in the trash storage part accordingly reduces, which poses a problem in terms of efficiency of a trash storage amount and increases maintenance frequency.
The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a packaging device and a trash box using the packaging device which is not only capable of disposing of women's sanitary products and paper diapers in a sealed manner but also capable of sealingly packing them automatically, and which includes a deaeration function of bringing films into close contact with a surface of an object for disposal, so that even though the object for disposal is packed by the film, a storage amount of the objects for disposal is not reduced, compared with a case where the object for disposal does not undergo packing processing by a film, and more particularly, which is suitable for installation in toilets of hotels and public toilets of parks, stations, and the like used by general public.

Abstract: When a trash is put in, film pull-out rollers (50), (60) are rotated by a motor (70) and films (31), (41) are pulled out from film feed rollers (30), (40). When passing between film pull-out rollers (50), (60), the trash is sealingly packed between the two films (31), (41). Therefore, since the trash can be automatically packed in a sealed manner and a clean state is maintained, the present invention is suitable for installation in toilets of hotels, public toilets, and the like used by general public.


A trust control management method for security, operable on a computer system generates a unique Trust ID value by combining user-defined values with hardware-specific values associated with the user's computer system and storing the Trust ID value in a memory register physically associated with the hardware of the computer system. A Trust Control Suite (TCS) operable with a server OS/hypervisor maintains a database of user-defined values and hardware-specific values for computer systems clustered in a trusted computing pool. An attestation procedure is performed by the trust control server combining the user-defined values with the hardware-specific values from its database and comparing it to the user-stored Trust ID value stored in the memory register associated with a user's computer system. Depending on whether it is a match or mismatch, the TCS can determine if it is a trusted computer or not, and can take appropriate alerts and policy actions.

Shared cloud computing technologies are designed to be very agile and flexible, transparently using available resources to process workloads for their customers. However, there are security and privacy concerns with not knowing the integrity, identity and location of the physical devices that make up a cloud platform, and allowing unrestricted workload migration among the servers that comprise an unverified cloud platform and across such unverified cloud platforms. Whenever multiple workloads are present on a multi-server cloud platform, there is a need to segregate those workloads from each other so that they do not interfere with each other, gain access to each other's sensitive data, or otherwise compromise the security or privacy of the workloads. Imagine two rival companies with workloads on the same cloud platform; each company would want to ensure that the servers housing their workloads are trusted to protect their information from the other company as well as any other unauthorized access.
Another concern with shared cloud computing is that workloads could move from servers in a cloud platform located in one country to servers in a cloud platform located in another country. Each country has its own laws for data security, privacy, and other aspects of information technology (IT). Because the requirements of these laws may conflict with an organization's policies or mandates (e.g., laws, regulations), an organization may decide that it needs to restrict which cloud platform it uses based on its specific location. A common desire is to only use cloud platform with servers physically located within the same country as the organization.
Forming trusted computing pools is a leading approach to aggregate trusted systems and segregate them from untrusted resources. This allows for the separation of higher-value, more sensitive workloads from commodity applications and data. The principles of operation are to: (1) Create a cloud platform to meet the specific and varying security requirements of users; (2) Control access to that cloud platform so that only the right applications get deployed there; and (3) Enable audits of the cloud platform so that users can verify compliance.
Such trusted computing pools allow IT to gain the benefits of the dynamic cloud environment while still enforcing higher levels of protections for their more critical workloads. The ultimate goal is to be able to use trusted verification and identification methodologies for deploying and migrating cloud workloads between and among trusted servers within a cloud platform. Current thinking has identified certain prerequisite steps, which can be thought of as staged requirements that a trusted cloud platform solution must meet:
Platform Attestation and Safe Hypervisor Launch: This stage attempts to ensure that the cloud workloads are run on trusted servers within the cloud platform. The cloud platform includes servers each with a hardware configuration (e.g., BIOS settings) and a hypervisor configuration. The hypervisor operates directly on the hardware, not on top of another operating system, thus it is imperative to show that the hypervisor has not been compromised and that it is the designated version and configuration. Before the server is used for workloads, its trustworthiness must be verified (measured). The items configured in the BIOS and hypervisor need to have their configurations verified before launching the hypervisor to ensure that the assumed level of trust is in place.
Trust-Based Homogeneous Secure Migration: Once the integrity of the cloud platform is established, the next stage requires that cloud workloads are able to be migrated among homogeneous trusted server platforms within a cloud environment.
Trust-Based and Geolocation-Based Homogeneous Secure Migration: This stage allows cloud workloads to be migrated among homogeneous trusted server platforms within a cloud environment, taking into consideration geolocation restrictions.
Achieving all three levels of control will not prevent attacks from succeeding, but unauthorized changes to the hypervisor or BIOS can be detected and launch of enforcement actions can be taken. These controls also facilitate compliance with security and governance policies, thus limiting damage to the information being processed or accessed within the cloud computing server.
However, the current approach to forming trusted computing pools by ensuring safe hypervisor launches and monitoring attestation of cloud server platforms has the deficiency that the conventional hypervisor management tools are software-based and run from a platform server virtually connected to remote client computers.
An example of a trust management technology for forming trusted computing pools is provided by Intel® Trusted Execution Technology ("TXT"). TXT implements a foundation for establishing a Transitive Chain of Trust (TCoT) that is rooted in hardware. Each module within the chain has an opportunity to examine and measure the next module, prior to that module's execution. The resulting Integrity Measurements (IM) are stored in shielded locations within a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). By using a secure communication method via the process of Remote Attestation, a third party can later request the Ns as evidence and proof that the BIOS and Operating System meet standards and thus are trusted.
In addition, TXT provides a method for introducing a user-defined value into the chain of evidence by storing that value in a specific secured NVRAM index with the TPM. The current art is to write the identical user-defined value into the TPM NVRAM index of a group of servers to designate a logical grouping or pool. Common terms for this method are "Geotag", "Geolocation" and "Geofence" because historically the first user-defined values used in demonstrating this capability were geographic in nature. In a current implementation of this process, a country code or Geotag is encrypted using a SHA1 function and the resulting Geotag value is stored in the TPM NVRAM index, e.g. SHA1 ("USA"). During the boot process, the Trusted Boot (TBOOT) module that initializes the BIOS uses a "TPM EXTEND" function to Extend the TPM NVRAM index Geotag value into Platform Configuration Register (PCR) 22. To validate the Geotag, the value in PCR22 is compared with an externally maintained lookup table.
However, the value placed into the TPM NVRAM index could be any arbitrary value because the lookup table only validates against the resulting PCR22 value. The validation confirms that PCR22=LookupHash(GeoTag) but does not validate that Extend(PCR22, SHA1(Geotag))==LookupHash(Geotag). The PCR Extend operation is not part of the validation.
There are drawbacks with deploying a homogeneous Geotag value across a number of server platforms within a Geofence. First, the fact that the value can be read by a virtual request to scan the value written in PCR 22 raises the concern that it could be spoofed. In addition, a bad actor could introduce a rogue machine into the Geofence that displays the "expected" PCR 22 Geotag value. A less nefarious but nonetheless important issue is the inability of the common Geotag to tie specific virtual machines to unique physical platform hosts from an evidentiary and forensics perspective. What is needed is a more robust and foolproof way of ensuring that Geotag of a trusted virtual machine cannot be spoofed.
Finally, TXT includes an additional mechanism termed "Launch Control Policy" (LCP), which allows the Platform Supplier (the manufacturer) and the Platform Owner (customer) each to specify requirements for a Secure Operating System Launch. The LCP policies contain specifications of valid Platform Configurations (PCONF policy), Operating System Versions (Measured Launch Environment, or MLE policy) and Authenticated Code Module (ACM) versions (SINIT policy). The LCP values are protected using features of the TPM and are compared against measured PCR and ACM values to determine Platform and Operating System trust. LCP provides a "go/no-go" mechanism for Secure Operating System Launch as well as providing enhanced protection against reset attacks and the ability to restrict access to specific TPM keys, data and resources.
Creating a Launch Control Policy can be a complex process and challenging to maintain. Given that the LCP process is a binary "go/no go" function, it can also be difficult to determine the root cause of LCP failures because the resulting inability to achieve Secure OS Launch is always the same. Moreover, depending on implementation, not all parts of LCP are included as part of the TCoT measurements, therefore it is possible for LCP to change and not impact the TCoT measurements.

System and method for hardware-based trust control management


A program controlled apparatus includes one or more units for executing a multiple process. A mutex ordering mechanism controls the ordering of mutex ownership to provide deterministic execution of the processes. A mutex processor monitors mutex registers for determining mutex ownership. The mutex registers can be configured as sets of mutex request registers and mutex release registers. The apparatus may include a single processor configured to execute multiple processes concurrently, or multiple processing units, each configured to execute one or more processes. A monitor unit which can monitor equivalent operation of the processing sets can also include the mutex ordering mechanism.

This invention relates to program controlled apparatus which is capable of executing multiple processes. The processes can include operating system processes, for example.
In machines for processing multiple processes (e.g. multiple threads) and multi-processor machines, the threads and/or processes can act independently on the xe2x80x98real statexe2x80x99 of the machine. Where reference is made to the xe2x80x98real statexe2x80x99 this is to be understood to encompass the programmer visible state, subject to certain constraints. Thus it includes the content of a fixed set of registers, including the program counter and main memory, but excludes transitory elements such as caches and intermediate pipeline values. The xe2x80x98real statexe2x80x99 includes all data required for context switching between processes plus, for example, operating system status data.
The separate threads or processors may not progress at the same pace, and the relative progress of the multiple threads or multiple processors need not be related. Imagine two processes in each of two separate compared processor sets initially have the same real state. If both of the processes of each processing set need a new resource, say a page of memory, they will act to acquire the page from a pool of spare pages held in the real state. Consider a situation where, in a first processing set PUA, one processor P0 is slightly faster and acquires the next page. In a second processing set PUB, P1 is slightly faster and acquires the next page. The real states of the processing sets have diverged, never to re-converge. In a single processor system, lockstep operation depends on the deterministic delivery of interrupts. In a multiple processor system, lockstep operation also depends on the internal details of core operations (i.e., operations on the real state not involving I/O).
Accordingly, an aim of the invention is to enable deterministic or equivalent operating of multiple processes, or multiple processors of a multi-processing system.
Particular and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Combinations of features from the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate and not merely as explicitly set out in the claims.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a program controlled apparatus comprising at least one execution unit for executing multiple programmed processes and a mutual exclusion primitive (mutex) ordering mechanism controlling the ordering of mutex ownership to provide deterministic execution of the processes.
By controlling the order of mutex ownership, it is possible to control the execution of the processes to achieve deterministic execution therefor. This can enable fault tolerance to be built into many multi-process (multi-threaded) processing environments including, for example, networked fault tolerant systems.
A mutex processor can be operable to monitor mutex registers for determining mutex ownership. By controlling the access to the mutex registers, that is the ownership thereof, a deterministic ordering of mutex processing can be achieved.
The mutex registers can be configured as sets of mutex request registers and mutex release registers.
The invention finds application, for example, to a single processor configured to process multiple threads, or processes concurrently. The processes could, for example, be operating system processes. The invention also finds application to a plurality of processing units, each configured to process at least one thread. A monitor unit can be connected to the processing units for monitoring equivalent operation of the processors. Each processing unit may be configured to process multiple threads concurrently. The invention also finds application to apparatus comprising a plurality of processing sets, where each processing set comprises a plurality of processors. A monitor unit can be provided for monitoring equivalent operation of the processing sets, the monitor unit comprising the mutex ordering mechanism.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided computing apparatus including a plurality of processing sets, wherein at least a first processing set is operable asynchronously of a second processing set. At least one resource for each of the processing sets is shared by the processors of the processing set. A mutex ordering mechanism is provided which is configured to ensure equivalent ordering of mutexes for the processing sets for controlling access by processors of respective processing sets to the respective resources, thereby to enable deterministic operation of the processing sets.
The mutex ordering mechanism can be formed from a monitor connected to receive I/O operations output from the processing sets, the monitor further being operable to synchronise operation of first and second processing sets by signalling the processing sets on receipt of output I/O operations indicative of a plurality of the processing sets being at equivalent stage of processing.
The monitor is operable to compare I/O operations for determining equivalent operating of the processing sets. The monitor can include a voter for determining equivalent ordering of I/O operations and common mutex storage accessed by voted I/O operations. The monitor comprises a mutex manager which can include a mutex start register and a mutex stop register per processing set. The mutex manager could also be provided with multiple sets of mutex start registers and a hash mechanism for accessing a mutex list for an I/O cycle.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing deterministic execution of multiple processes, the method comprising:
executing the processes; and
controlling the ordering of mutexes to provide deterministic execution of the processes.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing deterministic operation of an asynchronous multi-processor computer system, the method comprising:
ordering mutexes for access to system resources; and
operating the processors in accordance with the ordering of the mutexes.

Control of multiple computer processes using a mutual exclusion primitive ordering mechanism


A collision determination apparatus detects a current value of a lateral acceleration of a subject vehicle for calculating a collision risk index, and the collision risk index is used to determine the risk of collision of the subject vehicle with a front object. As the collision risk index takes the lateral acceleration of the subject vehicle into account, the collision risk index correctly represents a risk of collision of the subject vehicle with the front object when the subject vehicle is traveling in a condition that is under an influence of the lateral acceleration.

Conventionally, a parameter called Time To Collision (TTC) has been used as an index for a degree of risk of collision of a subject vehicle with an obstacle as described in Japanese patent document JP-A-2005-324700 (This document is also published in United States as 2005-0267683). The parameter TTC represents a period of time to a collision of the subject vehicle to the obstacle.
The TTC represents, in other words, the period of time to the collision if the subject vehicle maintains a traveling condition at the time of the calculation of the TTC. Further, by another definition, the TTC is a "100% probability" of the collision of the subject vehicle if the subject vehicle maintains a "current" traveling condition at the time of TTC calculation.
The TTC is effective for representing a degree of risk of collision of the subject vehicle with the obstacle that exists in front of the subject vehicle (a front object) when the vehicle is traveling in a straight path. However, when the traveling condition of the subject vehicle is under an effect of a sideway acceleration, the TTC does not serve as a correct index for representing the degree of risk of collision with the front object.
For example, when a driver of the subject vehicle operates a steering wheel to avoid the collision with the front object, the TTC does represent the correct index of the degree of risk of the collision with the front object during the period of time before the driver starts operating the steering wheel (i.e., while the subject vehicle is traveling in the straight path).
Once the steering wheel operation has started for avoiding the collision, the traveling condition of the subject vehicle transits from a straight travel condition to a sideway acceleration affected condition. In the sideway acceleration affected condition, the TTC is calculated based on the distance of the subject vehicle from the front object, and a relative speed relative to the front object. That is, the TTC is calculated based on the variables that are defined only by the motion of the subject vehicle in a front-rear direction, and not on the variables defined by the motion in the lateral direction.
Therefore, if the traveling condition of the subject vehicle generates the sideway acceleration of the subject vehicle, the TTC does not represent the correct index of the degree of risk of the collision of the subject vehicle with the front object, thereby yielding a false value of the degree of danger (i.e., 100% probability) of the collision of the subject vehicle with the front object even after the subject vehicle has started the collision avoidance motion.

Vehicle collision determination apparatus


The invention relates to a method and device for displaying a flight plan of an aircraft. The display device includes a display presenting unit making it possible to identify the flight phase of each waypoint of a flight plan which is displayed on a screen, and an activation unit making it possible to directly access a corresponding flight phase page.

It is known that such a display device generally comprises,                means for determining the flight plan of the aircraft which comprises, in a standard fashion, a plurality of successive waypoints;        display means for presenting in a textual manner, on a viewing screen of the aircraft, for example a multifunctional control and display screen of MCDU type ("Multifunction Control and Display Unit"), a flight plan page comprising a set of indications which illustrates said flight plan. This set of indications makes it possible to identify said waypoints and moreover provides additional information, such as the transit time, the altitude or the speed, which relate to these waypoints; and        actuation means which enable an operator to scroll said set of indications which is in general presented only in part on the viewing screen because of its significant size.
The flight plan may also be displayed, in a graphical manner, on a navigation screen, for example of ND type ("Navigation Display").
With a standard display device such as this, to plan a flight strategy by flight phases (climb, cruise, descent, etc.), the pilot must access other pages, with the aid of a button of the MCDU screen or by way of a shortcut which is totally separate from the aforesaid flight plan page. Within the framework of military use, for example on a military transport plane, the flight phases may comprise military phases such as a parachute drop, a low-altitude flight, in-flight refuelling, an autonomous approach, or a search and rescue procedure Moreover, with a standard display such as this, the pilot cannot directly associate the parts of his flight plan with parameters tied to the corresponding flight phase, this possibly being necessary in certain flight situations.

Method and device for displaying a flight plan of an aircraft


A multi-use adapter configured to provide network connectivity for a serial bus client is provided. The adapter includes: a serial interface for coupling with the serial bus client; a network interface for interfacing the adapter with a network; and host control logic configured to interface a plurality of types of serial bus clients with a utilizing device over the network. The host control logic may be configured to detect a USB client coupled to the USB interface, to determine a corresponding driver for the detected USB client, and to retrieve the corresponding driver via the network interface.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial communications architecture that is typically used to provide a personal computer (PC) with the ability to interconnect a variety of USB-enabled devices using a simple four wire cable. These USB devices are categorized into various device classes, including printer, display, communication, audio, mass storage, digital camera, audio player, and human interface. These USB devices are configured as USB clients which must be connected to a USB host in order to utilize the USB interface. The USB host has conventionally been a PC including a USB interface (e.g., a USB hub) and device driver software for various types of USB devices that might be connected.
More recently, network adapters have been provided with USB interfaces. These USB network adapters adapt one network topology to USB in order to allow a PC to connect to the network via the PC's USB interface, rather than via a network adapter or network interface card (NIC) directly coupled to the system's PCI bus. Two common USB network adapters are USB-to-Ethernet client adapters, which allow a USB host (e.g., a PC) to connect to an Ethernet device (e.g., a router), and USB-to-wireless client adapters, which allow a USB host (e.g., a PC) to connect to a wireless device (e.g., an IEEE 802.11 wireless access point).
In addition, USB host systems have been developed for embedded systems. However, these embedded USB host systems have been single-use type systems, such as print servers and set-top boxes. Thus, the software provided on the embedded USB host system is customized for a particular product or a particular class of products, thus reducing the complexity of the system.
However, these prior art system do not provide a configurable mechanism for connecting a USB client device to a network without the use of a PC serving as the USB host.


Injection apparatus for injecting at least two components to be brought into reaction with one another, comprising a hollow injection needle that can be charged by a plurality of syringe coupling connections corresponding in number to the number of components, preferably for endoscopic purposes and fashioned displaceable in a catheter on the basis of a grip member, whereby the syringe coupling connections are provided at the catheter in this case, characterized in that the components can be supplied to the injection needle (3) through a corresponding plurality of hoses (4, 5; 17) preferably proceeding through the catheter (1) and respectively connected to one of the syringe coupling connections (6, 7) in the grip member (2), whereby the components discharge in a common plane (30) wherein the reaction of the components is initiated.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an injection apparatus for injecting at least two components to be brought into reaction with one another, the apparatus including a hollow injection needle that can be coupled to a plurality of syringe coupling connections corresponding in number to the number of components. The apparatus is preferably used for endoscopic purposes and is displaceable in a catheter with a grip member, whereby the syringe coupling connections are provided on the catheter in this case.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such injection apparatus are particularly employed for injecting two-component fibrin adhesives, whereby fibrin or fibrinogen is to be brought into reaction with thrombin at such locations within the human body whereat bleeding must be stopped by closing blood vessels.
Such fibrin adhesive injection apparatus are commercially known and can be divided into two types. In the one type, the hollow injection needle is connected to a hose that discharges into the handle sections of a chamber into which the channels of the two syringe coupling connections in turn discharge. By actuating the two syringes, the two components of the fibrin adhesive are simultaneously introduced into the chamber and from the latter into the hose in which they should mix before they reach the hollow injection needle. On the one hand, a thorough blending of the two components is thereby not guaranteed; on the other hand, there is also the risk that the mixture of components will harden before reaching the hollow injection needle and thereby block the hose. In the other type of apparatus, two hollow injection needles are therefore employed that are bonded to one another side-by-side and are each respectively connected to the syringe coupling connections via a hose, whereby the two hoses proceed side-by-side in the catheter. A relatively large thickness of the composite needles in the directions of their diagonals which continue one another thereby derives, whereby the individual hollow needles have their side containing their tip arranged against one another, so that the aperture angle of the hollow needle arrangement is relatively large, this leading to an undesirably pronounced damage to the tissue. Moreover, a good blending of the two adhesive components is not guaranteed because the components emerge laterally side-by-side from the injection needles into the tissue to be treated and the axes of their discharge flows are at a relatively great distance from one another.


A self-contained liquid cooled heat sink system disposed in a computer has a plurality of socket portions through which a cooling liquid is pumped. Operating heat from a plurality of heat-generating computer components, representatively circuit board-mounted processor chips, is efficiently transferred to the heat sink system by heat pipe modules associated with the heat-generating components. Each module includes (1) an evaporator plate held in thermal contact with its associated component, (2) a condenser plate removably plugged into one of the sockets and in a heat transfer relationship therewith, and (3) a plurality of thermosyphoning type heat pipes interconnected between the evaporator and condenser plates. The use of the heat pipe modules permits rapid and easy pull-away electrical and cooling system disconnection for each processor board as well as providing for effective cooling of the processors without the necessity of forcing a flow of air across them.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the cooling of heat-generating components in electronic apparatus and, in a preferred embodiment thereof, more particularly relates to the cooling of a heat-generating computer components, such as processor chips, using heat pipe cooling modules removably plugged into a self-contained heat sink cooling system disposed within the computer.
2. Description of Related Art
As their operating speeds and capacities keep increasing, it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide adequate cooling for processors and other high heat generating components used in electronic equipment. This is particularly true in the case of computers utilizing multiple processors and hot plug drive arrays. As an example, current high end computer processor power consumption is in the 35 watt range and continues to increase as faster and more powerful processors continue to be developed.
The use of extruded aluminum heat sinks has successfully met cooling needs until just recently. These metal heat sinks depend on air moving through the system to carry away waste heat. However, aluminum heat sinks have a number of well known disadvantages which include the following:
1. Heat sinks often need to be removed for processor removal. This can create service problems with thermal interface materials. PA1 2. Large heat sinks can lead to wide spacing of multiple processors, causing signal propagation delay and package volume concerns. PA1 3. The chassis design must typically provide high air flow past the heat sink. PA1 4. Large heat sinks often restrict air flow to other components. PA1 5. Heat sinks must be designed to fit the constraints of internal air speeds, air flow direction, mechanical space, and the effect of surrounding components. Due to these factors, heat sinks are often system specific. PA1 6. Air heated by the processor heat sink is less effective at cooling other components in the electronic apparatus. PA1 7. The unsupported mass of a large heat sink is a shock and vibration concern in the overall design of the electronic apparatus. PA1 8. Fans may need to be added to the system or run at higher speeds to keep heat-generating components cool. PA1 1. Plumbing would have to be routed through each processor area. PA1 2. Removal of a processor would require manipulating plumbing fittings, or some sort of liquid disconnects. PA1 3. With the separate plumbing branches routed to each processor or other heat-generating component, and all of the attendant fittings and joints, liquid leakage within the computer would be potential problem. PA1 4. Multiple processor systems would either have to be shipped with all heat exchangers or provide fittings for future upgrades.
As an alternative to this conventional large heat sink forced convection cooling approach, liquid could be pumped through tubing to heat exchangers at each of the processor chips (or other high heat-generating components or assemblies;). Although this alternate cooling approach could easily provide the heat-generating components with adequate cooling, and could potentially solve some of the above-mentioned problems associated with forced air convective cooling using large heat sinks, it would tend to present problems of its own, including:
In view of the foregoing problems, limitations and disadvantages associated with the above-mentioned electronic apparatus cooling systems it can seen that a need exists for an alternative type of cooling system which eliminates or at least substantially reduces such problems, limitations and disadvantages.

Electronic apparatus with plug-in heat pipe module cooling system


Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, method and computer accessible medium can be provided which can facilitate a determination of at least one characteristic of a structure. For example, it is possible to use at least one first arrangement which can be structured to provide at least one first transmitted radiation along a first axis and at least one second transmitted radiation along a second axis. The first and second transmitted radiations can impact the structure and generate respective first and second returned radiation. The first and second axis can be provided at a predetermined angle with respect with one another which is greater than 0. Further, at least one second arrangement can be provided which can be configured to receive data associated with the first and second returned radiations, and determine at least one relative velocity between the structure and the first arrangement along the first and second axes.

In certain applications, it can be desirable to monitor the relative location or motion between two objects. For example, in certain applications, it can be beneficial to precisely direct a well-defined beam or sensing vector along particular directions or at specific locations with respect to a sample. It can therefore be important to provide knowledge about the relative location or motion between the beam or sensing vector and the sample. In several laser procedures, for example, it can be desirable to scan a laser beam across a sample according to a predetermined scan pattern or at specific locations. In cases where the sample may undergo uncontrolled motion, the precision with which the predetermined scan pattern or specific location can be achieved can be compromised. In certain sensing or imaging applications, it can be important to control the sensing point or axis with respect to a sample. In order to generate two- or three-dimensional images, the sensing point or axis can be scanned with respect to the sample according to a predetermined pattern. For accurate imaging reproduction of the structure of the sample, it can be important that the predetermined scan pattern is precisely followed. In the presence of uncontrolled sample motion, the actual scan pattern on or within the sample can differ from the predetermined scan pattern and image fidelity can be compromised.
One general category of strategies that can be commonly followed for monitoring the spatial location or motion between two objects is to monitor the location or motion of each objects with respect to a known or controlled reference point. This type of strategy can be relevant in cases where one object and the reference point are persistently located with respect to one another. In medical catheter-based imaging applications, for example, the signal transducer can be placed at the distal end of a catheter, which can be inserted within an animal or human body. The transducer can be connected to an actuator at a proximal end of the catheter using an axially non-extensible, torque-conveying element such that as the actuator rotates or pushes or pulls the element, the actuator's motion is replicated accurately at the transducer. When the tissue or organ that is being imaged is not moving, and further, when the imaging system is not moving, then the constraint that one object and the reference point can be fixed with respect to one another is met. Therefore, the relative location and/or motion of the transducer with respect to the organ or tissue can be monitored and controlled. In some cases, however, the organ or tissue may undergo motion, e.g., due to respiration, cardiac function, peristalsis or patient motion, and this general category of strategy may not be applicable. Further, motion within the body, along the length of the catheter, can result in an uncontrolled motion of a distal end and of the transducer of the catheter with respect to the tissue of interest.
In certain medical procedures, it can be preferable to monitor the location and/or motion of an instrument with respect to a specific anatomical location or organ. An exemplary strategy to accomplish this objective can be to prepare the instrument so that it can be detected by an imaging modality that also facilitates a detection of the specific anatomical location or organ. In certain cases, however, the anatomical location or organ may not exhibit sufficient contrast for detection. For example, by fluoroscopy or X-ray computed tomography, the soft-tissues of the body can exhibit low relative contrast. For example, coronary arteries may not, therefore, be located with these techniques without the use of exogenous contrast agents. Furthermore, certain conventional imaging technologies may not have a sufficient resolution to precisely determine the relative location or motion of an instrument with respect to a specific anatomical location or organ.
The above-described issues and deficiencies are merely representative of a need for more precisely monitoring the relative location or motion between two objects. Indeed, it may be beneficial to address and/or overcome at least some of the deficiencies described herein above.

System, method and computer-accessible medium for tracking vessel motion during three-dimensional coronary artery microscopy


The invention relates to a method for a computer system storing electronic objects being defined by metadata items. The method comprises deriving access rights from one or more security components originating from respective metadata items of at least one object, and determining the effective access rights for the object by means of the security components. The invention also relates to a method for a computer system storing electronic objects being defined by metadata items, wherein access rights for an object are determined by means of one or more pseudo-users. The invention also relates to an apparatus, a computer system and a computer readable medium comprising a computer program stored therein for carrying out the methods.

In a computer system, an access control list (ACL) is a solution of a security model for giving permissions to users for accessing electronically stored object. An ACL specifies which users and/or user groups are authorized to access objects and which operations are allowed on given objects. The operations can include reading ("R") from an object, writing ("W") to an object, deleting ("D") an object, and executing ("X") an object. Traditionally the users are identified by their name, and the groups by their members.
In addition to name-based access control, there is a solution for a role-based access control. In such a system, the permission to perform a certain operation is assigned to a specific role rather than a name. This eases the maintenance work because ACL doesn't have to be updated every time a new user is added to a certain job function.
Aforementioned solutions are derived from so called traditional folder structure, where folders are located in a static folder hierarchy. Therefore also ACL's are limited to a single hierarchy of access rights. Similarly, access roles are often statically assigned from a predefined set of users of user groups.
However, these solutions are not suitable for metadata-based folder hierarchy, as in a dynamic document management system. This is because in the dynamic document management system, the objects are not statically located in the folder structure but their existence in the document space varies according to the circumstance. Therefore, a different kind of an ACL solution is needed for the requirements of the metadata-based document management system.

Method, an apparatus, a computer system, a security component and a computer readable medium for defining access rights in metadata-based file arrangement


In a battery module including a plurality of batteries 40 stored in a housing, each of the batteries 40 includes an electrode portion 16 protruding from a battery case 5, a base 30A is arranged on a side of the electrode portions 16 so that the base 30A is in contact with the battery cases 5, and the electrode portions 16 are inserted in through holes 36 provided in the base 30A. Connection portions 320 connected to the electrode portions 16 are formed on upper surfaces of the electrode portions 16. A connection terminal 32 for connecting the batteries 40 in parallel is formed in a region on the base 30A in which the connection terminal 32 does not cover the through holes 36. The connection terminal 32 is connected to the connection portions 320 by fusible links 320A straddling the through holes 36.

In recent years, in view of savings in resources and conservation of energy, there have been increasing demands for nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries, nickel-cadmium secondary batteries, lithium ion secondary batteries, etc. which can be used repeatedly. Among them, lithium ion secondary batteries are characterized by lightness in weight, high electromotive force, and high energy density. Thus, there are growing demands for the lithium ion secondary batteries as power sources for driving various kinds of mobile electronic devices and portable communication devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, video cameras, and laptop personal computers.
On the other hand, to reduce used amount of fossil fuel, and to reduce the amount of emission of CO2, expectations for battery packs are growing to serve as power sources for driving motors such as vehicles. Such a battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules in which a plurality of batteries is connected in series and/or in parallel in order to obtain a preferable voltage and capacity.
Here, when a problem such as generation of excessive heat occurs in a battery included in the battery modules, thermal runaway, or the like may cause a serious problem such as rupture of the battery.
For this reason, an example of a battery pack used as a power source of a personal computer, or the like is disclosed, where the battery pack includes batteries connected in series by a thermal fuse, or the like (see, for example, PATENT DOCUMENT 1). Moreover, a mechanism was provided in which when an external short circuit occurs between external terminals of the battery pack, an overcurrent is detected by a protection IC provided on a safety protection circuit board, and a current is cut off by a FET device. However, since the thermal fuse is connected to leads of the batteries by soldering, or the like, control is required so that the thermal fuse is not blown at a temperature at the time of the connection, which causes problems in workability and productivity.
For this reason, a battery pack including a current cutoff mechanism is disclosed (see, for example, PATENT DOCUMENT 2). In the current cutoff mechanism, a first connection plate is connected to a second connection plate by a contact, around which a foaming layer having insulating properties is provided, and the thickness of the foaming layer is increased by excessive heat generated in the battery so that the contact is opened.
Moreover, an example of a battery pack in which PTC elements and fuses are connected in series is disclosed, wherein the fuses are formed in a stripe pattern of a thin film on an insulating substrate (see, for example, PATENT DOCUMENT 3).

Battery module and battery pack using the same


A semiconductor light emitting element includes an n-type semiconductor layer containing n-type impurities, a light emitting layer stacked on the n-type semiconductor layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer stacked on the light emitting layer and containing p-type impurities. The light emitting layer includes three or more well layers, and four or more barrier layers composed of a group-III nitride semiconductor having a larger band gap than that of the well layers, and each of the three or more well layers is sandwiched from both sides by neighboring two of the barrier layers. The three or more well layers include plural n-side well layers each having a first thickness to emit light of a common wavelength, and one or plural p-side well layers each having a second thickness larger than the first thickness and having a different composition from the n-side well layers to emit light of the common wavelength.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting element using group-III nitride semiconductors and a light emitting device provided with a semiconductor light emitting element.
2. Related Art
Generally, a semiconductor light emitting element using group-III nitride semiconductors includes a light emitting layer composed of a group-III nitride semiconductor between an n-type group-III nitride semiconductor layer and a p-type group-III nitride semiconductor layer. The n-type group-III nitride semiconductor layer contains n-type impurities for generating electrons as carriers, and the p-type group-III nitride semiconductor layer contains p-type impurities for generating holes as carriers. In this type of semiconductor light emitting elements, it is known that the light emitting layer has a multiquantum well structure including plural well layers and barrier layers alternately stacked (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-222812).
Even such a semiconductor light emitting element that uses group-III nitride semiconductors and includes a light emitting layer having a multiquantum well structure suffers from reduction in the light emission efficiency in some cases when many holes or electrons are not recombined with each other in the multiple well layers of the light emitting layer. The light emission efficiency is considerably reduced especially under the conditions of a high current density.
An object of the present invention is to increase the light emission efficiency of a semiconductor light emitting element and maintain the increased efficiency also in a high current range while keeping the unity of wavelength of light outputted from the semiconductor light emitting element.

Semiconductor light emitting element and light emitting device


A computer-implemented method for training a model is disclosed. The model is capable of retaining a history of one or more preceding elements and has a direction of prediction. The method includes obtaining a training sequence of elements. The method also includes splitting the training sequence into a plurality of parts. The method further includes selecting one part of the plurality of the parts depending on the direction of the model to generate a modified training data. The method includes further training the model using the modified training data.

The present disclosure, generally, relates to techniques for training a model used for prediction and techniques for rescoring a recognition hypothesis with a model.
In speech recognitions, a RNN (Recurrent type Neural Network) language model is utilized for decoding and for lattice rescoring that applies the RNN language model to a lattice generated by a weaker language model such as n-gram model. By virtue of stronger modeling capabilities of the RNN language model, error rates of the rescored lattices are reduced when comparing with the original lattices generated by the weaker language model.
The RNN language model has a hidden state that represents an infinite history of preceding words, which is the source of its strong modeling capability. The RNN language model is usually trained with written text and/or transcribed utterances that may not have errors. Automatically transcribed text may also be used as training data in a case of domain adaptation. However, trend of errors in the automatically transcribed training text is usually different from that of errors observed in lattices generated by the weaker language model.
The recognition errors are inevitably included at any word position in hypothesis given as a primary result of automatic speech recognition. However, the RNN language model is not trained to take care of such errors and thus the hidden state of the RNN would be collapsed when encountering errors in the hypothesis, which leads negative effect in calculating language model probabilities of succeeding words. Such negative effect on rescoring process due to an error in a hypothesis may also arise in other recognition task such as machine translation task, an image or movie captioning task, to name but a few.
Thus, there is a need for a technique capable of mitigating the negative impact on prediction due to an error in a hypothesis.

Training data modification for training model

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A novel process in which an optically active alcohol compound having a desired absolute configuration and a high optical purity can be obtained by asymmetrically hydrogenating a xcex2-keto acid compound through a simple operation. An optically active alcohol represented by general formula (III) as defined is obtained by asymmetrically hydrogenating a xcex2-keto ester compound represented by general formula (I) as defined in the presence of at least one ruthenium complex having as a ligand an optically active tertiary diphosphine compound represented by general formula (II) as defined.

The present invention relates to a novel process for producing an optically active alcohol. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel process suitable for the practical production of an optically active xcex2-hydroxy acid compound useful as an intermediate for medicines or as a functional material, etc.
Conventionally known methods for synthesizing an optically active alcohol compound include 1) a method in which an enzyme such as a baker""s yeast is used and 2) a method in which a metal complex is used to asymmetrically hydrogenate a carbonyl compound. In particular, with respect to the latter method for asymmetric hydrogenation, many proposals have been made. Known examples thereof include: (1) a method in which a carbonyl compound having a functional group is asymmetrically hydrogenated in the presence of an optically active ruthenium complex catalyst (R. Noyori, Asymmetric Catalysis in Organic Synthesis, pp.56-82 (1994)); (2) a method in which a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound is asymmetrically hydrogenated with the aid of a ruthenium-diphosphine complex (Tetrahedron Asymmetry, Vol.8, pp.3327-3355 (1997)); (3) a method of asymmetric hydrogenation using a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex (JP-B-6-99367) (the term xe2x80x9cJP-Bxe2x80x9d as used herein means an xe2x80x9cexamined Japanese patent publicationxe2x80x9d); (4) a method in which the hydrogen transfer reduction reaction of a carbonyl compound is utilized in the presence of an asymmetric complex catalyst comprising ruthenium, rhodium, or iridium (Chem. Rev., Vol.92, pp.1051-1069 (1992)); (5) a method in which a carbonyl compound is asymmetrically hydrogenated with the aid of a nickel complex modified with tartaric acid (Yu Kagaku, pp.828-831 (1980), and Y. Izumi, Advances in Catalysis, Vol.32, p.215 (1983)); (6) a method in which the asymmetric hydrosilylation reaction of a carbonyl compound is utilized (J. D. Morrison, Asymmetric Synthesis, Vol.5, Chap.4 (1985), and J. Organomet. Chem., Vol.346, pp.413-424 (1988)); (7) a method in which a carbonyl compound is reduced with a borane in the presence of an asymmetric ligand (J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. I, pp.2039-2044 (1985), and J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol.109, pp.5551-5553 (1987)); and (8) a method in which an acetophenone compound is asymmetrically hydrogenated in the presence of potassium hydroxide, an optically active diamine, and an asymmetric ruthenium complex catalyst (J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol.117, pp.2675-2676 (1995)).
However, the above-described conventional methods for synthesizing an optically active alcohol have the following drawbacks. The synthesis method using an enzyme requires a complicated procedure and is restricted in substrates usable in the reaction. In addition, the alcohol compounds which can be obtained by the method are limited to those having a specific absolute configuration. On the other hand, the synthesis methods using a transition metal catalyst for asymmetric hydrogenation have problems that the rate of reaction is low and the optical purity of the optically active alcohol compound obtained by the asymmetric hydrogenation of a xcex2-keto ester compound is insufficient, although various transition metal complex catalysts have been reported.
Especially in the fields of medicines and functional materials, it is important to obtain an optically active alcohol compound having a specific absolute configuration and a high optical purity and it has hence been necessary to overcome the above-described problems of the conventional methods.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel process in which an optically active alcohol compound having a desired absolute configuration and a high optical purity can be obtained through the asymmetric hydrogenation of a xcex2-keto ester compound.
Under these circumstances, the present inventors made intensive investigations. As a result, it has been found that when a xcex2-keto ester compound is asymmetrically hydrogenated with the aid of a ruthenium metal complex having as a ligand an optically active [4,4xe2x80x2-bis-1,3-benzodioxol]-5,5xe2x80x2-diylbis(diphenylphosphine) (hereinafter also referred to as xe2x80x9cSEGPHOSxe2x80x9d simply), then the corresponding optically active alcohol having a high optical purity is obtained. As a result of further extensive studies by the present inventors, the invention has finally been completed.
The invention provides a process for producing an optically active alcohol represented by the following general formula (III):
(wherein R1 represents a C1-C15 alkyl group which may have one or more substituents (selected from halogen atoms, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, amino groups protected by a protective group, amino groups substituted with one or more C1-C4 lower alkyl groups, amino groups protected by a mineral acid or organic acid, a benzyloxy group, C1-C4 lower alkoxy groups, C1-C4 lower alkoxycarbonyl groups, and aryl groups) or an aryl group; and R2 represents a C1-C8 lower alkyl group, or a benzyl group which may have one or more substituents)
which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating a xcex2-keto ester compound represented by the following general formula (I):
(wherein R1 and R2 are the same as defined above) in the presence of at least one ruthenium complex having as a ligand an optically active tertiary diphosphine compound represented by the following general formula (II):
(wherein R3 and R4 each independently represent a cycloalkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group, or a five-membered heteroaromatic ring residue).
The invention further provides a process for producing the optically active alcohol which comprises conducting the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction in the presence of a specific ruthenium complex.
The invention furthermore provides a process for producing the optically active alcohol which comprises conducting the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction in the presence of a specific acid.
The invention will be explained below in detail.
Preferred examples of R1 in the xcex2-keto ester compound (I) for use as a starting material in producing the optically active alcohol by the process of the invention include C1-C15 alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, and tridecyl; C1-C15 alkyl groups having one or more substituents (examples of the substituents include halogen atoms, hydroxyl, amino, amino groups protected by a protective group (e.g., acetyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, or t-butoxycarbonyl), amino groups protected by a mineral acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, bromic acid, phosphoric acid, or hydriodic acid) or by an organic acid (e.g., p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, or acetic acid), amino groups substituted with one or more C1-C4 lower alkyl groups, C1-C4 lower alkoxy groups such as benzyloxy, methoxy, ethoxy, and t-butoxy, C1-C4 lower alkoxycarbonyl groups such as methoxycarbonyl and ethoxycarbonyl, and aryl groups such as phenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, p-tolyl, and 2-naphthyl), and aryl groups such as phenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, p-tolyl, and 2-naphthyl.
Preferred examples of R2 in the xcex2-keto ester compound (I) include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and octyl and a benzyl group which may have one or more substituents. Preferred examples of the substituents include methyl, ethyl, and methoxy.
Specific examples of the xcex2-keto ester compound (I) include methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, n-propyl acetoacetate, isopropyl acetoacetate, n-butyl acetoacetate, t-butyl acetoacetate, n-pentyl acetoacetate, n-hexyl acetoacetate, n-octyl acetoacetate, benzyl acetoacetate, methyl 4-chloroacetoacetate, ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate, methyl 3-oxopentanoate, methyl 3-oxohexanoate, methyl 3-oxoheptanoate, methyl 6-methyl-3-oxoheptanoate, methyl 3-oxooctanoate, methyl 3-oxononanoate, methyl 3-oxodecanoate, methyl 3-oxoundecanoate, methyl 3-oxododecanoate, methyl 3-oxotridecanoate, methyl 3-oxotetradecanoate, methyl 3-oxopentadecanoate, methyl 3-oxohexadecanoate, methyl 3-oxoheptadecanoate, methyl 3-oxooctadecanoate, ethyl 3-oxopentanoate, ethyl 3-oxohexanoate, ethyl 3-oxoheptanoate, ethyl 3-oxooctanoate, ethyl 3-oxononanoate, ethyl 3-oxodecanoate, ethyl 3-oxoundecanoate, ethyl 3-oxododecanoate, ethyl 3-oxotridecanoate, ethyl 3-oxotetradecanoate, ethyl 3-oxopentadecanoate, ethyl 3-oxohexadecanoate, ethyl 3-oxoheptadecanoate, ethyl 3-oxooctadecanoate, methyl benzoylacetate, ethyl benzoylacetate, methyl 4-phenyl-3-oxobutanoate, methyl 4-benzyloxyacetoacetate, methyl 4-methoxyacetoacetate, dimethyl 3-oxooctanedioate, diethyl 3-oxooctanedioate, methyl 4-dimethylamino-3-oxobutanoate, ethyl 4-dimethylamino-3-oxobutanoate, methyl 4-amino-3-oxobutanoate hydrochloride, methyl 4-amino-3-oxobutanoate p-toluenesulfonate, methyl 4-amino-3-oxobutanoate methanesulfonate, 3-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-oxopropyltrimethylammonium chloride, 3-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-oxopropyltrimethylammonium chloride, and methyl 4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-3-oxobutanoate.
The optically active tertiary diphosphine compound to be used in the invention is represented by the following general formula (II):
(wherein R3 and R4 each independently represent a cycloalkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group, or a five-membered heteroaromatic ring residue). Preferred examples of the cycloalkyl groups represented by R3 and R4 include cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl. Preferred examples of the five-membered heteroaromatic ring residues represented by R3 and R4 include 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-benzofuryl, and 3-benzofuryl. Examples of the substituents of the substituted phenyl groups include C1-C5 lower alkyl groups, C1-C5 lower alkoxy groups, di(lower alkyl)amino groups, and halogen atoms. The term xe2x80x9clower alkylxe2x80x9d as used herein means alkyl groups having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
Preferred of the compounds represented by general formula (II) are compounds represented by formula (X):
(wherein R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, or a C1-C4 alkoxy group, and R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C1-C4 alkoxy group, or a di(C1-C4 alkyl)amino group).
More preferred are compounds represented by formula
(wherein R8 and R9 are the same and each represent a hydrogen atom, t-butyl, n-butyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, ethyl, or methyl, and R10 represents a hydrogen atom, t-butoxy, isopropoxy, ethoxy, or methoxy).
The optically active tertiary diphosphine compound described above is known, and can be synthesized, for example, by the method described in JP-A-2000-16997 or JP-A-10-182678 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,273 (the term xe2x80x9cJP-Axe2x80x9d as used herein means an xe2x80x9cunexamined published Japanese patent applicationxe2x80x9d).
The ruthenium complex to be used in the invention is a complex having the optically active tertiary diphosphine compound as a ligand, and is a known compound. Preferred examples of the complex are the following complexes represented by general formulae (IV) to (IX):
ruthenium-optically active tertiary phosphine complexes represented by:
[Ru2X4(L)2](A)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(IV)
(wherein X represents a halogen atom, L represents an optically active tertiary phosphine ligand, and A represents a tertiary amine);
ruthenium-optically active tertiary diphosphine complexes represented by:
[RuX(arene)(L)]Xxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(V)
(wherein X and L are the same as defined above, and arene represents an optionally substituted benzene ring, preferred examples of which include benzene, toluene, xylene, cumene, p-cymene, ethylbenzene, and anisole);
ruthenium-optically active tertiary diphosphine complexes represented by:
[Ru(G)2(L)]xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VI)
(wherein L is the same as defined above, and G represents a halogen atom or an acetoxy group);
ruthenium-optically active tertiary diphosphine complexes represented by:
[Ru(L)](J)2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VII)
(wherein L is the same as defined above, and J represents BF4, ClO4, PF6, or BPh4 (wherein Ph represents a phenyl group));
ruthenium-optically active tertiary diphosphine complexes represented by:
[{RuX(L)}2(xcexc-X)3][NH2Q2]xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VIII)
(wherein L and X are the same as defined above, and Q represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, or cyclohexyl, a phenyl group which may have one or more substituents, or a benzyl group which may have one or more substituents) (preferred examples of substituents of the phenyl group include methyl, ethyl, methoxy, and ethoxy, and examples of the benzyl group which may have one or more substituents include 1-phenethyl); and
ruthenium-optically active tertiary diphosphine complexes represented by:
RuX2(L)(DMF)nxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(IX)
(wherein X and L are the same as defined above, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and DMF represents N,N-dimethylformamide).
Preferred examples of the complexes described above include the following.
[Ru2Cl4(SEGPHOS)2](NEt3)
[xe2x80x9cSEGPHOSxe2x80x9d means [4,4xe2x80x2-bis-1,3-benzodioxol]-5,5xe2x80x2-diylbis(diphenylphosphine)]
[Ru2Cl4(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)2](NEt3)
[xe2x80x9cp-Tol-SEGPHOSxe2x80x9d means [4,4xe2x80x2-bis-1,3-benzodioxol]-5,5xe2x80x2-diylbis(di-p-tolylphosphine)]
[Ru2Cl4(DM-SEGPHOS)2](NEt3)
[xe2x80x9cDM-SEGPHOSxe2x80x9d means [4,4xe2x80x2-bis-1,3-benzodioxol]-5,5xe2x80x2-diylbis(di-3,5-dimethylphenylphosphine)]
[RuCl(C6H6)(SEGPHOS)]Cl
[RuBr(C6H6)(SEGPHOS)]Br
[RuI(C6H6)(SEGPHOS)]I
[RuCl(p-cymene)(SEGPHOS)]Cl
[RuBr(p-cymene)(SEGPHOS)]Br
[RuI(p-cymene)(SEGPHOS)]I
[RuCl(C6H6)(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]Cl
[RuBr(C6H6)(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]Br
[RuI(C6H6)(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]I
[RuCl(p-cymene)(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]Cl
[RuBr(p-cymene)(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]Br
[RuI(p-cymene)(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]I
[RuCl(C6H6)(DM-SEGPHOS)]Cl
[RuBr(C6H6)(DM-SEGPHOS)]Br
[RuI(C6H6)(DM-SEGPHOS)]I
[RuCl(p-cymene)(DM-SEGPHOS)]Cl
[RuBr(p-cymene)(DM-SEGPHOS)]Br
[RuI(p-cymene)(DM-SEGPHOS)]I
[Ru(OAc)2 (SEGPHOS)]
[xe2x80x9cOAcxe2x80x9d represents an acetoxy group]
[Ru(OAc)2(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]
[Ru(OAc)2(DM-SEGPHOS)]
[RuBr2(SEGPHOS)]
[RuBr2(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)]
[RuBr2(DM-SEGPHOS)]
[Ru(SEGPHOS)](BF4)2
[Ru(SEGPHOS)](ClO4)2
[Ru(SEGPHOS)](PF6)2
[Ru(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)](BF4)2
[Ru(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)](ClO4)2
[Ru(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)](PF6)2
[Ru(DM-SEGPHOS)](BF4)2
[Ru(DM-SEGPHOS)](ClO4)2
[Ru (DM-SEGPHOS)](PF6)2
[{RuCl(SEGPHOS)}2(xcexc-Cl)3][NH2Me2]
[{RuCl(SEGPHOS)}2(xcexc-Cl)3][NH2Et2]
[{RuCl(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)}2(xcexc-Cl)3][NH2Me2]
[{RuCl(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)}2(xcexc-Cl)3][NH2Et2]
[{RuCl(DM-SEGPHOS)}2(xcexc-Cl)3][NH2Me2]
[{(RuCl(DM-SEGPHOS)}2(xcexc-Cl)3][NH2Et2]
[xe2x80x9cMexe2x80x9d represents a methyl group and xe2x80x9cEtxe2x80x9d represents an ethyl group]
RUCl2(SEGPHOS)(DMF)n
RuCl2(p-Tol-SEGPHOS)(DMF)n
RuCl2(DM-SEGPHOS)(DMF)n
[xe2x80x9cDMFxe2x80x9d represents N,N-dimethylformamide]
The complexes shown above can be prepared, for example, by the method described in JP-A-10-182678 or JP-A-11-269185.
The process of the invention for preparing an optically active alcohol will be explained below. The xcex2-keto ester compound (I) described above, as a starting material, is asymmetrically hydrogenated in a solvent in the presence of the ruthenium complex, whereby an optically active alcohol can be prepared. Preferred examples of the solvent include protic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol. Also preferred is a mixed solvent composed of one or more such protic solvents and one or more of other solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, toluene, benzene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, and the like. It is more preferred that the xcex2-keto ester compound (I) be dissolved in the solvent before being subjected to asymmetric hydrogenation reaction.
In order for the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction to proceed satisfactorily, the ruthenium complex is added to the solvent in an amount of preferably from 1/100 to 1/100,000 mol, more preferably from 1/1,000 to 1/50,000 mol, per mol of the xcex2-keto ester compound. This asymmetric hydrogenation reaction is generally conducted for from 1 to 48 hours with stirring under the conditions of a hydrogen pressure of from 0.1 to 10 MPa, preferably from 1 to 5 MPa, and a temperature of from 0 to 150xc2x0 C., preferably from 20 to 100xc2x0 C.
In the invention, the selectivity and conversion of the xcex2-keto ester compound as a starting material can be improved by conducting the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction in the presence of an acid. Preferred examples of the acid include mineral acids such as sulfuric acid and organic acids such as methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and benzenesulfonic acid. In this case, such an acid is added in an amount of generally from 0.5 to 10 mole equivalents, preferably from 0.7 to 8 mole equivalents, more preferably from 0.9 to 5 mole equivalents, to the ruthenium complex.
After completion of the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction, the hydrogenation product may be purified in an ordinary manner. Usable purification techniques include a method in which the solvent is removed by distillation and the resulting residue is distilled under reduced pressure, a method in which the hydrogenation product is purified by silica gel column chromatography, and a method in which the hydrogenation product is purified by recrystallization.
The optically active alcohol (III) obtained by the process of the invention will be explained below. The optically active alcohol (III) corresponds to the xcex2-keto ester compound used as a starting material. This is because the keto group of the xcex2-keto ester compound is reduced to a hydroxyl group to give the optically active alcohol (III). Furthermore, either of the (R) isomer and the (S) isomer of the optically active alcohol can be obtained according to the selection of the ruthenium complex.
More specifically, different ruthenium complexes behave in the manners shown by the following scheme 1.
It has therefore become possible to freely prepare the optically active alcohol having the desired absolute configuration by selecting a ruthenium complex.
Examples of the optically active alcohol include methyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, ethyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, octyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, benzyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, ethyl 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate, ethyl 6-methyl-3-hydroxyheptanoate, methyl 3-hydroxytetradecanoate, ethyl 4-phenyl-3-hydroxybutanoate, ethyl 3-phenyl-3-hydroxypropionate, and ethyl 4-N-benzyloxycarbonylamino-3-hydroxybutanoate, which all are optically active.
According to the invention, it has become possible to produce an optically active alcohol by the practical process. Namely, the invention has made it possible to efficiently produce through a simple operation an optically active alcohol having a high optical purity and a specific absolute configuration. Because of this, optically active alcohols useful as intermediates for medicines or as functional materials, etc. have become easily producible. Furthermore, by conducting the reaction in the presence of a specific acid, selectivity can be greatly improved while keeping the high optical purity almost unchanged.
The invention will be explained below in more detail by reference to Examples, but the invention should not be construed as being limited to these Examples in any way. The optically active tertiary diphosphine compound used in the invention was synthesized by the method described in JP-A-2000-16997 or JP-A-10-182678. The ruthenium-optically active tertiary diphosphine complexes used were prepared by the method described in JP-A-10-182678.
Among the xcex2-keto ester compounds used in the invention, ethyl 4-benzyloxyacetoacetate was synthesized by the method described in JP-A-6-6522, while methyl benzoylacetate, dimethyl 3-oxooctanedioate, methyl 3-oxooctadecanoate, methyl 3-oxotetradecanoate, methyl 6-methyl-3-oxoheptanoate, and methyl 4-phenyl-3-oxobutanoate were synthesized by the methods described in Yuji Oikawa et al., J. Org. Chem., Vol.43, pp.2087-2088 (1978) and Heinz Thoma et al., Liebigs Ann. Chem., pp.1237-1248. Furthermore, methyl 4-amino-3-oxobutanoate hydrochloride was synthesized by the method described in JP-A-11-286479.
The following analytical instruments or means were used.
Determination of Asymmetric Yield
High-performance liquid chromatograph HPLC:
Waters 2690 (manufactured by Waters Inc.)
Detector, Waters 996 (manufactured by Waters Inc.)
Gas Chromatograph:
HP5890 series (manufactured by Hewlett Packard Co.)
Determination of Selectivity
Gas Chromatograph:
HP5890 series (manufactured by Hewlett Packard Co.)

Process for producing optically active alcohol


In a method of manufacturing a glass optical element by press-forming a glass material in a chamber by using a forming mold comprising upper and lower dies at least one of which is movable, where a surrounded space is formed between the glass material and at least one of the upper and the lower dies when the upper and the lower dies come into contact with the glass material, a pressure within the chamber is reduced before the glass material placed in the forming mold is heated to a press-forming temperature. After sealing the space as formed when the glass material is in contact with at least one of forming surfaces of the upper and the lower dies, a gas is introduced into the chamber. The glass material is heated in the gas and then press-formed under a pressing load.

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing an optical element, such as a lens, made of an optical glass and, in particular, to a method and an apparatus for producing a glass optical element by press-forming or press-molding a heated and softened glass material with high accuracy using a forming mold or die precisely shaped in conformity with a desired shape of the optical element. This invention also relates to a glass optical element produced by the method and the apparatus.
In order to produce an optical element, such as an optical glass lens, for use in an optical apparatus such as a camera and an optical pickup, proposal has recently been made of a number of methods in which a heated and softened glass material is press-formed or press-molded by the use of a forming mold made of metal or ceramics. In this case, use may be made of glass materials (i.e., preforms preliminarily shaped) in various shapes, such as a spherical shape, a rod-like shape, and a flattened spherical shape. In case where the glass materials of these shapes are used to form optical elements, there may arise a problem which will presently be described. Referring to FIG. 1, depending upon the relationship between the shape of a glass material W and the shape of the forming mold, i.e., the shape of an optical element to be formed (for example, if a radius of curvature of the glass material W is greater than a paraxial radius of curvature of a forming surface of the forming mold), a space S may sometimes be formed between a lower die 2 and the glass material W. If press-forming is carried out in a state where a gas trapped in the space S is not discharged, a glass surface of the optical element obtained by press-forming undesirably has a recess, called a gas trap mark, formed at a portion corresponding to the space S where the gas remains trapped. As a result, optical performance and surface quality of the optical element obtained by press-forming are adversely affected.
In order to remove the above-mentioned problem, various conventional techniques have been proposed as follows.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H6-9228 (Reference 1) discloses a forming method comprising the steps of press-forming an approximate half of a total deformation amount by heating and pressing a material with a pressing pressure reduced or released at least once during heating and thereafter press-forming the rest of the total deformation amount by cooling and pressing the material.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H8-325023 (Reference 2) discloses a method in which, upon press-forming a flattened glass material, a gas present between a forming surface and the glass material is allowed to escape outward through a groove or a protrusion formed at a topmost portion of an outer periphery of the forming surface.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H11-236226 (Reference 3) discloses a method in which a forming chamber is evacuated in a pressing step.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H8-245224 (Reference 4) discloses a method in which, immediately before a heated and softened glass material is press-formed, a space around the glass material is reduced in pressure.
However, the above-mentioned methods are disadvantageous in the following respects.
In the method disclosed in Reference 1, the pressing pressure is reduced or released during heating so that the gas trapped in the space is returned into a normal pressure. In this method, however, the gas tends to remain trapped in the space depending upon the shape or the volume of the space. In order to completely discharge the gas, the pressing pressure must be repeatedly increased and decreased. In addition, mold release at a press-forming temperature may cause glass fusion or defective appearance of an optical element obtained by press-forming.
In the method disclosed in Reference 2, the groove or the protrusion is formed at the topmost portion of the outer periphery of the forming surface to allow the gas present between the forming surface and the glass material to escape outward. In this method, however, the shape of the groove or the protrusion is transferred onto the optical element obtained by press-forming. As a result, the optical element has a deformed part, for example, at an attaching portion to be attached to an optical apparatus. In some cases, a post-processing step of removing the deformed part is required.
In the method disclosed in Reference 3, heating is carried out after evacuating the forming chamber to discharge the gas trapped in the space. In this method, however, it is impossible to utilize heat conduction through an atmospheric gas in the forming chamber as a medium in order to heat the forming die and the preform because the forming chamber is evacuated into vacuum. As a result, heating efficiency is insufficient. In addition, heat-soaking to bring the die and the preform to uniform temperature is difficult and temperature control is unstable.
In the method disclosed in Reference 4, the glass material is heated to a temperature not lower than a softening point and thereafter transferred by a conveying member to a position between upper and lower dies. After the space around the glass material is reduced in pressure, the glass material is press-formed. In this method, the glass material is transferred to the position between the upper and the lower dies after the glass material is heated to the temperature adapted to press-forming. As a result, the glass material has a low viscosity and is inevitably deformed to trap the gas between the glass material and the lower die after the glass material is transferred. Therefore, the gas can not be purged or removed even if pressure reduction is performed thereafter.
Thus, in the above-mentioned conventional methods described in References 1 to 4, it is impossible to completely purge the gas from the space between the forming mold and the preform.
In the meanwhile, in an optical pickup for use with an optical information recording medium to record and/or reproduce information, an objective lens having higher resolution is required with an increase in recording density. Therefore, in the optical pickup, it is required to use a light source having a short wavelength and an objective lens having a large numerical aperture (NA). Also as a coupling lens for optical communication, a high-NA lens is required in order to improve coupling efficiency.
In the high-NA lens, however, a surface tilt angle (an angle formed between a normal to a lens surface and an optical axis) tends to be large at its periphery. For example, the surface tilt angle may exceed 40°, sometimes may be as large as 50° to 63°. In addition, a lens useful as the high-NA lens tends to have a small paraxial radius of curvature. Further, in order to assure a production tolerance or to reduce wavefront aberration, the high-NA lens may be increased in center thickness. As a result, the glass material is increased in volume.
For example, in case where the preform as the glass material has a spherical shape, RM/RL is greater than 1 and has a value within a range of 1.0<RM/RL≦1.6, in particular, 1.1≦RM/RL≦1.6, where RM represents a radius of curvature of the glass material and RL represents a paraxial radius of curvature of the lens (paraxial radius of curvature of the forming surface of the forming mold). Thus, the glass material is increased in volume within a range such that an outer diameter of the glass material does not exceed an outer diameter of the lens. If the lens of such a shape is formed, a space is inevitably formed between the forming surface and the glass material.
However, even in case where RM/RL is large as mentioned above, it is required to form a lens excellent in optical performances and surface quality.

Apparatus and method for producing a glass optical element and glass optical element produced thereby


A thermal contact and filling material having at least one thermally conductive filler and at least one silicone-free base oil. The thermally conductive filler is a metal hydroxide, in particular aluminum hydroxide, and the thermal contact and filling material also has at least one chemically crosslinkable prepolymer mixture. A storage battery assembly, in particular for a vehicle, is provided including at least one carrier, at least one storage battery element, which storage battery element is arranged on the carrier, and at least one bottom plate, wherein the carrier is arranged on the bottom plate. The storage battery assembly includes, at least between the bottom plate and the carrier and/or between the storage battery element and the carrier, a thermally conductive layer, which is formed of the thermal filling and contact material.

In the operation of electronic and energy-handling systems, heat is evolved and this has to be removed quickly and effectively from the heat-producing unit. To establish thermal contact of the active components with the corresponding heat input or output conduits, a fixed mechanical contact is classically produced either by means of screws, clamps or by material-to-material bonding in the form of soldering or welding. Although mechanical fixing has the advantage that the connection is releasable, the heat transfer between the active components occurs only via a few contact points. Since a layer of air is present in between and this air is a very poor conductor of heat, the heat generated is removed only incompletely. In order to improve heat transfer, thermally conductive materials are therefore introduced into the join between the active components, i.e. between the heat-generating component and the heat-removing component.
Such thermally conductive materials are known, for example in the form of heat-conducting pastes, from microelectronics and they make the removal of heat from semiconductor chips possible. Such heat-conducting pastes usually consist of a thermally conductive filler comprised of metallic or ceramic particles, for example aluminum oxide, and a silicone-containing base oil as binder.
DE 10 2015 118 245 A1 discloses, for example, a heat-conducting paste for electronic components which contains aluminum oxide as filler together with a silicone-containing base oil.
Such heat-conducting pastes generally satisfy the requirements of microelectronics by being able to be introduced in a simple manner into the join between the active components and, due to their paste-like properties, also being able to be removed again. Furthermore, they can also be used in large-volume technical applications, for example for thermal contacting in heat exchangers. However, due to their paste-like properties, such heat-conducting pastes have little suitability for applications which are subjected to mechanical stresses. Mechanical stresses such as vibrations or movements can result in the heat-conducting paste being squeezed out from the join between the active components, so that air enters the join. Such mechanical stresses play a significant role in, for example, vehicles, for which reason suitable operational security of the thermally conductive materials in the event of impact, vibration and an inclined position is desirable in the cooling of vehicle components. The formation of an air layer between the active components can lead to local overheating of the heat-removing components, as a result of which their ability to function is restricted. Thus, the escape of the heat-conducting paste from the join can cause failure of the heat-generating component.

Thermal contact and filling material, and storage battery assembly having a thermal contact and filling material


In a content reproducing system (1), which includes: a program judging unit (31) that judges whether or not a BD-J program being executed is a continuing program when an eject operation for a BD is detected during reproduction control in which reproduction of a content is controlled by execution of the BD-J program; and a reproduction control management unit (21) that causes the reproduction control performed by the BD-J program to be stopped if the BD-J program is not the continuing program and performs switching to the reproduction control for the content based on any one of media excluding the BD (41), the reproduction control based on execution of the continuing program is continued if the BD-J program is the continuing program.

Up to now, there is known a technology for a reproduction apparatus on which information recorded on an optical disc and information recorded on a hard disc or the like are combined as package information to be subjected to reproduction or execution, in which if an application that is viable across a plurality of discs is running when titles are switched over, an update of the information recorded on the hard disc is recognized as the same as an operation of replacing discs to thereby cause the application to continue running without being forcefully terminated even if switchover between the titles occurs (see Patent document 1).
In addition, there is known a reproduction apparatus in which when an instance exists in a work memory of a Java virtual machine, reproduction of a title is interpreted as continuing even if an application is terminated, and if a reproduction end event is issued, the reproduction of the title is assumed to be ended, which is followed by a selection of the next title (see Patent document 2).    [Patent document 1] JP 2008-507795 A    [Patent document 2] WO 2005/036547

Control apparatus and method for content reproducing