A gas-tight pipe connection includes a sleeve which has two internal thread portions which extend from the ends of the sleeve to a thread-free portion located in the middle of the sleeve. The sleeve includes a radially inwardly projecting web located in the middle of the thread-free portion and extending over a certain width. The web has end faces constructed as contact shoulders. A sealing portion each is provided between the internal thread portions and the contact shoulders. The connection further includes two pipes, each of which has in an end portion thereof a threaded portion constructed complementary to the internal thread portion of the sleeve. Each pipe also has a contact shoulder and a sealing surface arranged between the contact shoulder and the threaded portion. A tight metal seat is formed between the sealing surface of the pipe and the sealing portion of the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with an opening extending through the wall of the sleeve in each area of the thread-free portion between the tight metal seat and the internal thread portion. The openings make it possible to reproducibly test the gas-tightness of the pipe connection within less than 60 seconds.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas-tight pipe connection. The pipe connection includes a sleeve which has two internal thread portions which extend from the ends of the sleeve to a thread-free portion located in the middle of the sleeve. The sleeve further includes a radially inwardly projecting web located in the middle of the thread-free portion and extending over a certain width. The web has end faces constructed as contact shoulders. A sealing portion each is provided between the internal thread portions and the contact shoulders. The connection includes two pipes, each of which has in the end portion thereof a threaded portion constructed complementary to the internal thread portion of the sleeve. Each pipe also has a contact shoulder and a sealing surface arranged between the contact shoulder and the threaded portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pipe connection of a pipeline for use in the crude oil and natural gas industry composed of threaded pipes which can be screwed together has the purpose, on the one hand, to absorb the load in the line and, on the other hand, to secure the tightness of the connection. In order to meet this object, the threaded portions of the pipe ends and of the sleeve may have, for example, a conical API thread with an appropriate overlap. Because of the overlap of the thread, high surface pressures occur during screwing together of the pipes and the sleeve. In order to handle these high pressures, surface coatings and greases have been developed which make it possible that the components can be screwed together without jamming. These thread greases are spreadable pastes having a high proportion of finely distributed solid particles, such as graphite, metals, or teflon. In addition to ensuring a problem-free screwing together of the components, the greases also reinforce the hydraulic tightness in the areas of the threads of the connection, wherein the connection acts as a labyrinth-type seal.
In gas-tight pipe connections developed by various manufacturers, the tightness of the connection is usually obtained by a high contact pressure due to an overlap in the tight metal seat.
The contact shoulders serve as a stop means for the screw connection and ensure that the tight metal seat remains activated even when the load acting on the pipeline increases. Consequently, the conical thread does not have to perform a sealing function and, contrary to API round threads or buttress threads, only has the purpose to transmit the load in the pipeline. In the past, in order to reliably screw together the connections in the regions of the threads and the tight seat, surface coatings and lubricating pastes with solids were also used in these pipe connections in order to eliminate jamming and to ensure that the screw connections can be used again. The use of lubricating pastes with solids or screw greases in gas-tight connections with conical threaded portions has the substantial disadvantage that a high temporary sealing effect is created in the threaded portions which does not permit a test of the tightness of only the tight metal seat.
When a gas-tight connection is tested with respect to tightness after having been screwed together, the temporary sealing behavior of the threaded portions has the consequence that the test result does not provide a secure statement with respect to the tightness of the metal seal, even though the leakage test methods which have been utilized are capable of detecting leakage rates of less than 1 liter per year and the test pressures are in the range of the minimum internal pressure strength of the pipe or the pipe connection. Particularly in the case of low test pressures, the test period of 1 to 3 minutes which is available on the site is entirely insufficient for safely overcoming the temporary sealing effect generated by the screw grease. Therefore, as appropriate tests have shown, a gas tightness is very often only simulated when screw greases are used. These tests have further shown that the pseudo-tightness or false tightness increases with increasing pipe diameter because of the increased thread resistance and because of the usually additionally increased length of the thread. In addition, in larger pipes, i.e., pipes having an outer diameter of more than 7 inches and small wall thicknesses or small s/d ratios, wherein s is the wall thickness and d is the inner diameter, the test pressures used during the leakage test cannot be as high as compared to the pressures used in small pipes. Since the time during which the test gas passes along the length of the thread is essentially dependent on the pressure, it must be expected in larger pipes that the proportion of pseudo-tight connections increases.
One of the available possibilities for overcoming this problem is to significantly reduce the temporary sealing capability of the thread, for example, by using a low-viscosity oil, for example, slide track oil, as the lubricant instead of a high viscosity API grease, see German Patent 391 33 14. Contrary to the use of an API grease as the lubricant when the pipes are screwed together, the test gas used during the tightness test can penetrate within a short time through the oil film entrapped in the threads and can be detected if the tight metal seat should be leaking. However, this method can also not be used if the test pressure must be reduced to below 300 bar because the pipes have large diameters, thin walls, and a low material quality. Under these conditions, the time required for the test gas to flow through is increased even when a low viscosity oil is used to such an extent that the time exceeds conventional test periods. This means that, even when a slide track oil is used, it is possible that a pseudo-tightness is simulated, even if substantially longer test periods than are usual are employed. This would mean an additional unacceptable extension of the assembly times because of costs and the minimizing of danger.


A marking line detection system includes an imaging device and an ECU. An information extraction unit of the ECU is configured to extract depth distance information from the imaging device to an imaging object based on image information in an imaging area captured by the imaging device. A road surface area identification unit of the ECU is configured to identify a distant road surface area based on the depth distance information, the distant road surface area being a road surface area that excludes an immediately-preceding road surface area of the vehicle in the image information and is more distant from the vehicle than the immediately-preceding road surface area. A marking line detection unit of the ECU is configured to detect a marking line in the distant road surface area based on image information corresponding to a position of the distant road surface area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a marking line detection system and a marking line detection method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-118521 (JP 2003-118521 A) is known as a detection system and a detection method for detecting a marking line on the road surface around a vehicle. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-118521 (JP 2003-118521 A) discloses a technology that initially sets the white line detection area in a captured image of the road in front of the vehicle as large as possible and, if the road parameters are updated later to reflect the actual road surface shape, sets the white line detection area as small as possible for increasing the processing speed while reducing the number of incorrect detections of non-white-line objects. This technology detects a distant white line by gradually shifting the white line detection area to fit the road surface shape while estimating the road parameters from the near side to the distant side of the vehicle. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-014398 (JP 2012-014398 A) discloses a technology that identifies a double white line, composed of a solid line and a broken line, on a line basis. This technology varies the identification method according to whether the area is near to the vehicle, where a double white line can be approximated almost as a straight line, or the area is distant from the vehicle where a double white line cannot be approximated almost as a double white line because the road, is a turning road. In this technology, because the solid line and the broken line of a double white line in a distant area are sometimes merged, the double white line, though provided for the vehicle, may be determined as a noise. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-060371 (JP 2010-060371 A) discloses a technology that calculates a histogram of edge intensities in the radiation direction from the vanishing point (determined in advance by the focus of the lens and the imaging surface) in the captured image to the vehicle side and, by identifying the direction in which the edge intensity becomes equal to or larger than the threshold, determines that there is a white line in that direction. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-170750 (JP 2011-170750 A) discloses a technology that records white line edges in a captured image for each frame but does not record white line edges for a frame when a pitch variation is generated in the vehicle. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-286724 (JP 2007-286724 A) discloses a technology that, when the vehicle enters an intersection, detects other vehicles that approach the intersection from the intersecting roads, based on the analysis result of the measuring points of each of the near area and the distant area that are set in the captured image of the road in front of the vehicle. In this technology, the density of the measuring points in the distant area is set higher than the density of the measuring points in the near area. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-101428 (JP 2001-101428 A) discloses a technology that changes the filter for extracting the edges of the preceding vehicle in the captured image of the road in front of the vehicle according to the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle.
Incidentally, the technology for sequentially estimating the road surface shape while sequentially detecting the marking lines from the near side to the distant side has the following problems. For example, the road surface shape cannot sometimes be estimated correctly when the brightness value of the marking line is reduced by the shadow of a solid object such as a building, when the marking line is hidden by other vehicles or bicycles, or when the marking line is not detected continuously because the marking line is wavy. In such a case, the marking line cannot sometimes be detected during the estimation process because of insufficient information or because of the analysis of an incorrect area in the captured image. Therefore, there is room for increasing the detection accuracy of a distant marking line.

Marking line detection system and marking line detection method of a distant road surface area


A system for connecting and sealing panels comprising a bridge component with elevated and recessed surface features adapted to receive and bridge adjacent panels to form a weather-resistant seal and aesthetically pleasing appearance. By providing mating surface features to receive a side edge portion of an adjacent panel assembly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may enable an improved lap joint to be established between adjacent backed panels.

Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to panels and, more particularly, to a backed panel and a backed panel assembly. Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention may also relate generally to components and methods for connecting panels. Examples of panels that may benefit include siding panels, wall panels, and other similar or suitable types of panels or components. U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,500 is hereby incorporated by reference as just one example of a panel that may benefit. Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be described herein primarily with regard to siding panels and wall panels, it is not intended to limit the present invention to any particular type of panel, component, assembly, or method, unless expressly claimed otherwise. Examples of the types of siding panels that may benefit include, but are not limited to, metal siding, vinyl siding, fiber cement siding, plastic composite siding, and wood siding, either singly or using any number of possible panel backing materials known in the art, such as fiberglass, expanded polystyrene, other foamed plastics, or any other similar or suitable backing material.
In order to enhance the thermal insulation of building structures, one or more layers or panels of insulating material may be provided between a facing panel and a building structure. Known insulated siding systems exist in many different forms. A common problem with known insulated siding systems is the joint between the sides of adjacent siding units. Simply abutting siding units that are situated side-by-side may leave an unsightly gap that may be infiltrated by wind, rain, and insects. On the other hand, overlapping the siding panels of adjacent backed siding units may result in an uneven or raised seam. A raised or uneven seam may also detract from the appearance of the siding and create a passage for the undesired transfer of air, moisture, and insects. In addition, a raised or uneven seam may increase the risk of oil canning of the siding panels as well as delamination of the siding units. Furthermore, overlapping the siding panels may cause breakage or other damage to the underlying backing panel, which compromises the functionality of the backing panel. Thus, to achieve the desired level of integration between adjacent backed paneling units, an improved system and method of forming and optionally sealing a joint between backed panels is needed.
In one exemplary embodiment, a system is provided for connecting panels, wherein a bridge component may be used to align, level, seal, or otherwise connect adjacent panels. The bridge component may optionally be adapted to interlock with mating features of a facing panel, a backing panel, or both. By using a bridge component to connect adjacent panels, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may enable an improved lap joint to be established between adjacent panels.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may incorporate a protuberant surface feature, such as a bead-line, that may provide a sealing surface between the edge surfaces of adjacent panels. An exemplary embodiment of a bead-line may comprise, but is not limited to, flexible polymers or elastomers and may be designed such that its projected height forms an essentially flush surface with the adjacent panel surfaces to form a pleasing appearance. Yet another example of an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a grooved or recessed surface feature that may provide a foundation for a filler material, such as a flexible plastic (e.g., polyurethane) or any other similar or suitable filler material. For example, a filler material may be applied within a gap formed between adjacent panel edges to ultimately produce a surface that may be flush with the adjacent panel faces, thereby hiding the joint, providing a weather resistant seal, and/or producing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other features and advantages will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.

System and method for leveling or alignment of panels


A core material for a composite light weight building panel formed from a settable mixture, said mixture including an acrylic, polymer-based resin comprising:                85% by volume water based copolymer emulsion of polyvinyl acetate with versatate and/or acrylic copolymers in a water emulsion;        10% water soluble colloid protector;        5% additives;such that the resin obtains a specific gravity in the range of 1000±50 g/l and an 8 Ford viscosity at 20° C. of 7±1: and the mixture having the following ratios:        from 1 to 3 liters of cement;        more than 2 liters of resin;        from 10 to 100 liters of light weight filler material;        less than 6 kilograms of water, and        such that the volume of cement is more than half the volume of resin.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in the construction of dwelling houses and will be described with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use and may be used, for example, in the construction of other buildings.
The core used for light weight panels is often made from foamed plastics material, such as polystyrene foam, and frequently includes suitable fire retardant additives. However, such foamed plastics materials are expensive and of limited strength, and often rely upon cladding or a coating to impart strength to the panel. Sometimes composite panels have a metal cladding which increases their cost. Metal clad panels may also be difficult to cut to size, especially on a house constructions site.
The present invention aims to ameliorate one or more of the above problems or at least provide an alternative composite wall panel and a core material therefor for use in building construction. Other aims and advantages may become apparent from the following description.

Composite light weight building panel and core material therefor


Disclosed is a stacked battery that can flow a larger rounding current in a short-circuit current shunt part than in an electric element when a short circuit occurs in the short-circuit current shunt part and the electric element in nailing, the stacked battery in which an electrical resistance of a current collector tab of the short-circuit current shunt part is smaller than an electrical resistance of a current collector tab of the electric element.

Nailing test has been known as a test for evaluating safety of batteries when the batteries are damaged by an external object. In the nailing test, a conductive nail penetrates a battery, and a temperature increase etc. are observed when an internal short circuit occurs in the electric element in the battery.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a battery including a protective element that consists of two insulating layers and a conductive layer provided between the insulating layers, the element being provided outside an electric element. In Patent Literature 1, the protective element functions as an antecedent short-circuit layer in nailing. That is, the protection element has a short circuit before the electric element does, to proceed discharge of the electric element before the electric element has a short circuit. This results in an inhibition of a temperature increase inside the electric element. Patent Literatures 2 to 4 also disclose various techniques to inhibit heat generation due to an internal short circuit in battery.


Provided in embodiments of the present application are a wireless communication method and device. The method includes: determining, by a network device, a type of a discontinuous transmission (DRX) indication signal according to DRX configuration information, wherein the DRX indication signal is configured to indicate that a terminal device wakes up during an on duration of a DRX cycle; and according to the determined type of the DRX indication signal, sending by the network device the DRX indication signal to the terminal device.

For the purpose of saving power for terminals, a discontinuous transmission (DRX) mechanism is introduced in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. When there is no data transmission, the power consumption can be reduced by stopping receiving the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), thereby improving battery life. The basic mechanism of DRX is to configure a DRX cycle for a terminal in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected state (RRC_CONNECTED). The DRX cycle consists of an On Duration and an Opportunity for DRX. During the On Duration, the terminal monitors and receives the PDCCH; during the Opportunity for DRX, the user equipment (UE) does not receive the PDCCH to reduce power consumption.
In future communication systems, there is a high requirement for communication performance.
Therefore, how to improve DRX to improve communication performance is an urgent problem to be solved.

Communication method, terminal device and network device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A method and system for routing call failures in a location-based services system. A remote terminal is connected to a location-based services system and is used to generate a voice-based tailored request for information. The voice-based tailored request for information is interpreted with a voice recognition application and a natural language processing application. If the voice recognition application or the natural language processing application fail to determine the meaning of the tailored request for information to a predetermined level of accuracy then the remote terminal is routed to a call center.

Wireless communication devices have recently evolved from a technology used by an elite segment of the population to a technology that is used by the masses. In the year 2000, it has been estimated that well over 100 million people in the United States alone subscribed to at least one type of wireless communication service. Worldwide, the number of wireless communication device users has reached a staggering number and is growing all of the time. In the near future, it is envisioned that almost everyone will own or use some sort of wireless communication device that is capable of performing a variety of functions.
In addition to traditional wireless communication devices, many different types of portable electronic devices are in use today. In particular, notebook computers, palm-top computers, and personal digital assistants (PDA) are commonplace. The use of wireless communication devices is widespread and it is expected that in the near future combined mobile telephone/PDA devices will be widely used by the masses. Currently, most of these devices are only used by a small segment of the population due, in large part, to the fact that there are a limited number of applications and services available for such devices.
The Internet has become a widely used medium for providing business information in a variety of forms that are targeted to various types of individuals and businesses. Generally speaking, one of the problems associated with searching for business information on specific products and services using the Internet is being able to locate relevant business information for products and services that are available in a geographic area that is located near the user. As such, a need exists for a way to provide a broad range of business information and content to wireless communication devices and workstations that are based on the respective geographic location of the communication device at the time the information is requested.
Users of several different types of remote terminals often desire to use directory assistance services that are provided by various telephone companies. Many of these directory assistance calls originate in a respective metropolitan telephone service area and request listing information for listings contained in the same metropolitan service area. Most local directory assistance services in use today are handled by an operator that assists the requestor by manually inputting the requested information into an application that searches a database containing residential and business listings. As such, a need exists for providing an enhanced directory assistance system that is capable of automatically providing geographically targeted responses to requestors.
When consumers request information on a respective product or service using voice commands there is a chance that the system will not recognize the words that have been spoken and thus a voice enable system cannot locate the appropriate information. Often times this is frustrating to users who in turn, may eventually stop using voice enable systems if they experience errors. As such, a need exists for routing call failures in a location-based services system.

Routing call failures in a location-based services system


The present invention relates to new polymers that contain repeat units of phenol and photoacid-labile esters that contain an alicyclic group, preferably a bulky group that suitably may contain 7 to about 20 carbons, such as an alkyladamantyl, ethylfencyl, tricyclo decanyl, or pinanyl group. Polymers of the invention are useful as a component of chemically-amplified positive-acting resists.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to new polymers that contain repeat units of phenol and photoacid-labile esters that contain a tertiary ester alicyclic hydrocarbon group. Polymers of the invention are particularly useful as a component of chemically-amplified positive-acting resists.
2. Background
Photoresists are photosensitive films used for transfer of images to a substrate. A coating layer of a photoresist is formed on a substrate and the photoresist layer is then exposed through a photomask to a source of activating radiation. The photomask has areas that are opaque to activating radiation and other areas that are transparent to activating radiation. Exposure to activating radiation provides a photoinduced chemical transformation of the photoresist coating to thereby transfer the pattern of the photomask to the photoresist-coated substrate. Following exposure, the photoresist is developed to provide a relief image that permits selective processing of a substrate.
A photoresist can be either positive-acting or negative-acting. For most negative-acting photoresists, those coating layer portions that are exposed to activating radiation polymerize or crosslink in a reaction between a photoactive compound and polymerizable reagents of the photoresist composition. Consequently, the exposed coating portions are rendered less soluble in a developer solution than unexposed portions. For a positive-acting photoresist, exposed portions are rendered more soluble in a developer solution while areas not exposed remain comparatively less developer soluble.
In general, photoresist compositions comprise at least a resin binder component and a photoactive agent. Photoresist compositions are described in Deforest, Photoresist Materials and Processes, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York, ch. 2, 1975 and by Moreau, Semiconductor Lithography, Principles, Practices and Materials, Plenum Press, New York, ch. 2 and 4, both incorporated herein by reference for their teaching of photoresist compositions and methods of making and using the same.
More recently, chemically-amplified-type resists have been increasingly employed, particularly for formation of sub-micron images and other high performance applications. Such photoresists may be negative-acting or positive-acting and generally include many crosslinking events (in the case of a negative-acting resist) or deprotection reactions (in the case of a positive-acting resist) per unit of photogenerated acid. In the case of positive chemically-amplified resists, certain cationic photoinitiators have been used to induce cleavage of certain xe2x80x9cblockingxe2x80x9d groups pendant from a photoresist binder, or cleavage of certain groups that comprise a photoresist binder backbone. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,075,199; 4,968,581; 4,883,740; 4,810,613; and 4,491,628, and Canadian Patent Application 2,001,384. Upon cleavage of the blocking group through exposure of a coating layer of such a resist, a polar functional group is formed, e.g., carboxyl or imide, which results in different solubility characteristics in exposed and unexposed areas of the resist coating layer. See also R. D. Allen et al., Proceedings of SPIE, 2724:334-343 (1996); and P. Trefonas et al. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Photopolymers (Soc. Of Plastics Engineers), pp 44-58 (Oct. 6, 1997).
While currently available photoresists are suitable for many applications, current resists also can exhibit significant shortcomings, particularly in high performance applications such as formation of highly resolved sub-half micron and sub-quarter micron features.
Consequently, interest has increased in photoresists that can be photoimaged with short wavelength radiation, including exposure radiation of about 250 nm or less, or even about 200 nm or less, such as wavelengths of about 248 nm (provided by KrF laser) or 193 nm (provided by an ArF exposure tool). Use of such short exposure wavelengths can enable formation of smaller features. Accordingly, a photoresist that yields well-resolved images upon 248 nm or 193 nm exposure could enable formation of extremely small (e.g. sub-0.25 xcexcm) features that respond to constant industry demands for smaller dimension circuit patterns, e.g. to provide greater circuit density and enhanced device performance.
However, many current photoresists are generally designed for imaging at relatively higher wavelengths, such as I-line (365 nm) and G-line (436 nm) exposures and are generally unsuitable for imaging at short wavelengths such 248 nm. In particular, prior resists exhibit poor resolution (if any image at all can be developed) upon exposure to these shorter wavelengths.
Additionally, many photoresists will not provide images of sufficient resolution required for many high performance applications. For instance, coating layers of current photoresists often have excessive loss of unexposed areas in developer solutions (known as xe2x80x9cUFTLxe2x80x9d or unexposed film thickness loss), thereby significantly compromising resolution of the developed resist image. For example, high UFTL, particularly in thin film resist applications, can result in low contrast images with rounded or angular profiles Many current photoresists also may exhibit relatively poor resistance to etchants employed after development, which also can dramatically compromise resolution of the feature transferred to the patterned substrate.
It thus would be desirable to have new photoresist compositions, particularly resist compositions that can be imaged at short wavelengths such as 248 nm. It would be particularly desirable to have such resist compositions that can provide high resolution relief images.
We have now found novel polymers and photoresist compositions that comprise the polymers as a resin binder component. Polymers of the invention contain repeat units of both 1) phenolic groups and 2) acid labile ester groups that contain a tertiary ester alicyclic hydrocarbon group that has a molecular volume of at least about 125 cubic angstroms (xc3x853), and preferably has two or more fused or bridged rings. Preferred tertiary ester groups include optionally substituted fencyl groups, particularly ethyl fencyl; optionally substituted alkyl adamantyl, particularly a methyladamantyl leaving group (where the ester oxygen is linked to the tertiary carbon of the methyladamantyl moiety); optionally substituted tricyclo decanyl; and optionally substituted pinanyl. The photoresist compositions of the invention can provide highly resolved relief images upon exposure to short wavelengths, including sub-300 nm and sub-250 nm wavelengths such as248 nm.
Moreover, we have surprisingly found that significantly enhanced lithographic performance and reduced UFTL can be provided by resists of the invention. See, for instance, the results of Example 11 which follows.
It also has been surprisingly found that polymers of the invention exhibit surprisingly enhanced contrast between exposed and unexposed regions of a resist coating layer, and significantly enhanced resolution, e.g. relative to a comparable phenolic/alkylester copolymer that does not contain alicyclic groups (e.g. a phenolic/t-butyl acrylate copolymer).
Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the relatively bulky alicyclic groups can effectively xe2x80x9cshieldxe2x80x9d adjacent phenolic groups from interaction with and dissolution by aqueous alkaline developer. Hence, in unexposed coating layer regions, the resist has a relatively low dissolution in alkaline developer. However, in exposed regions, the alicyclic group is removed to provide a polar xe2x80x94COOxe2x88x92moiety, and the phenolic groups are xe2x80x9cde-shieldedxe2x80x9d, to thereby together provide a relatively high dissolution rate in alkaline developer. Consequently, significant solubility differentials between exposed and unexposed resist areas can be realized.
Preferably, particularly to provide reduced UFTL, polymers of the invention will contain a major portion of phenolic units. More specifically, preferred polymers of the invention contain at least about 30 or 40 percent phenolic groups, more preferably at least about 50, 60, 70, 75 or 80 mole percent phenolic groups, with the balance being optionally substituted alicyclic acid labile groups or other groups. Particularly preferred polymers of the invention contain from about 30 or 40 to 80 or 85 mole percent phenolic groups, and from about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 or 50 mole percent acid labile groups with an alicyclic ester moiety. Particularly preferred polymers of the invention contain from about 65, 70, 80 or 85 mole percent of phenolic units, with the balance alicyclic ester units.
We have also surprisingly found that resists of the invention can exhibit even further enhanced resolution, particularly reduced line edge roughness, where the resist deblocking polymer of the invention contains a phenolic groups that contains a meta-OH group. For such polymers, typically a mixture of meta-phenol and para-phenol will be employed. For example, an amount equal mixture (50:50 molar ratio) of meta-hydroxyphenol and para-hydroxyphenol can be employed, or a greater portion of an position isomer than the other, e.g. use of a 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 molar ratio of para-hydroxyphenol:meta-hydroxyphenol, or a 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 molar ratio of meta-hydroxyphenol:para-hydroxyphenol. One preferred meta-phenol polymer has had units of para-hydroxystyrene:meta-hydroxystyrene:alicyclic (MAMA) ester at a respective molar ratio of 40:40:20. Another preferred meta-phenol polymer has had units of para-hydroxystyrene:meta-hydroxystyrene:alicyclic (MAMA) ester at a respective molar ratio of 50:20:30.
Additionally, we have found that use of a photoacid labile ester group that contains a fencyl group, particularly ethylfencyl, provides a resist system that can be deprotected at relatively lower temperatures (lower activation energy required). More particularly, it has been found that resists of the invention that contain a polymer having phenolic units and photoacid labile ester units having ethylfencyl leaving groups can provide high resolution relief images (e.g. sub-quarter micron) with post-exposure bakes (ca. 60 seconds duration) of no more than 110xc2x0 C., or even no more than about 100xc2x0 C. or 90xc2x0 C.
Polymers of the invention also may contain units in addition to phenolic groups 1) and alicyclic acid labile groups 2). For example, dissolution enhancers may be included in a polymer of the invention, such as anhydrides and lactones. Contrast enhancing groups also may be present in polymers of the invention, such as groups provided by polymerization of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, and such groups protected with photoacid labile groups e.g. ethoxyethyl methacrylate, t-butoxy methacrylate, t-butyhmethacrylate and the like. Groups that are essentially inert to photolithography also may be employed, such as carbocyclic aryl groups, particularly phenyl groups, which may be provided by reaction of styrene, and phenyl or other aryl groups that are optionally substituted by moieties that are essentially unreactive to thermal (e.g. between about 150 to 200xc2x0 C.) and photoacid conditions of photolithography.
As indicated above, preferred polymers of the invention exhibit quite low dissolution rates prior to photoacid-induced deprotection, e.g. in a standard aqueous base dissolution characterization protocol, typically less than about 10 angstroms per second in 0.26N tetramethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solution, more typically about 5 or less angstroms per second dissolution in 0.26N tetramethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solution. References herein to xe2x80x9ca standard aqueous base dissolution characterization protocolxe2x80x9d, or other similar phrase, designate the following test conditions: a liquid coating composition of the polymer is spin coated onto silicon wafers and solvent removed at 130xc2x0 C. for 1 minute. Polymer dried film thickness is about 1.0 xcexcM. Dissolution rates of the polymer films are measured by immersion of the coated wafer in the specified developer (e.g. as above, 0.26N tetramethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solution) such as by using a Perkin-Elmer 5900 Development Rate Monitor.
The invention also provides methods for forming relief images, including methods for forming a highly resolved relief image such as a pattern of lines where each line has essentially vertical sidewalls and a line width of about 0.40 microns or less, and even a width of about 0.25, 0.20 or 0.16 microns or less. The invention further provides articles of manufacture comprising substrates such as a microelectronic wafer substrate or liquid crystal display or other flat panel display substrate having coated thereon a polymer, photoresist or resist relief image of the invention.
Other aspects of the invention are disclosed infra.
As stated above, polymers of the invention comprise contain repeat units of both phenol groups and acid labile ester groups with a tertiary alicyclic hydrocarbon ester moiety, particularly a polycyclic ester such as methyladamantyl moiety, ethylfencyl moiety, tricyclo decanyl moiety, or a pinanyl moiety. References herein to a xe2x80x9ctertiary alicyclic ester groupxe2x80x9d or other similar term indicate that a tertiary carbon of an alicyclic moiety is covalently linked to the ester oxygen, i.e. xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O))Oxe2x80x94TR where T is a tertiary carbon of alicyclic group R. In at least many cases, preferably a tertiary ring carbon (i.e. endocyclic carbon) of the alicyclic moiety will be covalently linked to the ester oxygen, such as exemplified by the below depicted methyladamanytl acrylate groups. However, the tertiary carbon linked to the ester oxygen also can be exocyclic to the alicyclic ring, typically where the alicyclic ring is one of the substituents of the exocyclic tertiary carbon (see for instance the substituted cyclohexyl group below having a molecular volume of 161 xc3x853). Typically, the tertiary carbon linked to the ester oxygen will be substituted by the alicyclic ring itself, and/or one, two or three alkyl groups having 1 to about 12 carbons, more typically 1 to about 8 carbons, even more typically 1, 2, 3 or 4 carbons. The alicyclic group also will not contain aromatic substitution.
Acrylate-containing polymers are generally preferred, such as may be provided by reaction of methyladamantyl methacrylate or methyladamantylacrylate, i.e. the following compounds:
Preferred polymers include those of the following Formula I:
R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl such as C1-6 alkyl, and preferably R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or methyl;
each R is the same or different non-hydrogen phenyl ring substituent that is preferably essentially non-reactive to photogenerated acid and may be e.g. halogen (F, Cl, Br or I); nitro; cyano; hydroxyl; alkylsulfonyl preferably having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; optionally substituted alkyl preferably having 1 to about 8 carbon atoms; optionally substituted alkoxy preferably having 1 to about 8 carbon atoms; optionally substituted carbocyclic aryl such as phenyl; and the like;
Y is an optionally substituted alicyclic group, preferably a fused or bridged ring system (particularly a bicyclic or tricyclic ring system) having 7 to about 20 carbons, such as optionally substituted fencyl preferably ethylfencyl, optionally substituted adamantyl preferably 2-methyladamantyl, and optionally substituted tricyclo decanyl, particularly 8-methyltricyclodecanyl;
z is an integer of from 0 (where the phenyl ring is fully hydrogen substituted) to 4, and preferably z is 0, 1 or 2;
a is the mole percent of the depicted phenolic units and is preferably 20 to 80 mole percent based on total polymer units, or other preferred value as discussed above; and b is the mole percent of the photoacid labile ester groups and is preferably 20 to 80 mole percent based on total polymer units, or other preferred value as discussed above.
The sum of a and b in Formula I above typically will be at least about 50 mole percent of total units of the polymer, more typically at least about 60, 70, 80, 90 or 95 mole percent of total units of the polymer. In Formula 1, the phenolic units are typically meta or para-substituted by a hydroxyl group, more typically para-substituted.
Particularly preferred polymers of the invention include those that contain only phenol and alicyclic acid labile groups, such as compounds of the following Formula II:
wherein R1, R2, R, Y, a and b are the same as defined above for Formula I, and the sum of a and b is about 100 percent. Preferably, R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or methyl, and z is 0, 1 or 2.
As discussed above, additional preferred polymers of the invention may include additional units, including that are essentially unreactive to typical photolithographic conditions (i.e. heat and photoacid), or other units such as a lactone unit. In particular, polymers of the following Formula III are preferred:
wherein R1, R2, R, Y, z, a and b are the same as defined above for Formula I;
R3 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, preferably hydrogen or methyl;
X is a group that is typically unreactive to lithographic conditions, particularly heat (e.g. 150xc2x0 C. and above) and photoacid, and includes optionally substituted phenyl and cyano; or a lactone group such as butyrolactone; or an anhydride such as itaconic anhydride, which preferably has been purified;
c is the mole percent of the units X, and suitably is at least one percent, and more typically is from about 1 to 50 mole percent, more typically 1 to about 30 or 40 mole percent, even more typically 5 to about 15, 20, 25 or 30 mole percent;
In Formula III, the sum of a, b and c preferably is at least about 50 mole percent, more typically the sum of a, b and c will be at least 60, 70 or 80 mole percent, and preferably may be about 90, 95, 98 or 100 mole percent.
As discussed, various moieties described herein, including moieties of polymer of Formulae I, II and/or III may be optionally substituted. A xe2x80x9csubstitutedxe2x80x9d group may be substituted at one or more available positions, typically 1, 2, or 3 positions by one or more suitable groups such as e.g. halogen (particularly F, Cl or Br); cyano; nitro; C1-6alkyl sulfonyl such as mesyl; C1-8 alkyl; C1-8 alkoxy; C2-8 alkenyl; C2-8 alkynyl; hydroxyl; alkanoyl such as a C1-6 alkanoyl e.g. acyl and the like; etc.
Particularly preferred polymers of the invention include the following, which may optionally comprise additional polymer units such as those disclosed above, but preferably will comprise 90 mole percent or greater of the below depicted units, more preferably 95 or greater of the below depicted units, or consist of only the below depicted units.
(1) Poly(4-hydroxystyrene-co-ethyl fenchol methacrylate)
(2) Poly(4-hydroxystyrene-co-2-methyladamantyl methacrylate)
(3) Poly(4-hydroxystyrene-co-8-methyltricyclodecanyl methacrylate)
Additional preferred polymers correspond to those above (1), (2) and (3) polymers, but have alternate alkyl substitution at the tertiary carbon that is linked to the ester oxygen, particularly other C1-8alkyl substitution, more typically other C1-6alkyl substitution.
Preferred alicyclic moieties of photoacid labile ester groups of polymers of the invention have rather large volume. As discussed above, without being bound by theory, it is believed that the bulky alicyclic groups provide enhanced contrast and resolution when used in the phenolic copolymers of the invention.
More particularly, preferred alicyclic groups of photoacid labile ester groups will have a molecular volume of at least about 125 or about 130 xc3x853, more preferably a molecular volume of at least about 135, 140, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, or 200 xc3x853. Alicyclic groups larger than about 220 or 250 xc3x853 may be less preferred, in at least some applications. References herein to molecular volumes designate volumetric size as determined by standard computer modeling, which provides optimized chemical bond lengths and angles. A preferred computer program for determining molecular volume as referred to herein is Alchemy 2000, available from Tripos. For a further discussion of computer-based determination of molecular size, see T Omote et al, Polymers for Advanced Technologies, volume 4, pp. 277-287.
Some preferred alicyclic groups of acid labile esters of the invention are shown immediately below together with the ester oxygen linkage. The substituent R shown in the following structures is suitably C1-8 alkyl, more typically C1-6 alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl and the like.
Some specifically preferred alicyclic groups of acid labile esters of the invention are shown immediately below together with the ester oxygen linkage, and with volumetric size values (xc3x853) listed to the right of the alicyclic group.
As discussed above, even Ether enhanced lithographic results can be achieved by use of meta-phenol in the polymer of the invention. Typically, the meta-phenol will be employed in combination with para-phenol units, although a copolymer where the only phenolic units are meta-isomers also can be employed. If meta-phenolic units are employed, typically the polymer will contain at least 1, 2 or 3 mole percent of meta-phenol units, more typically about 5, 8, 10, 15, 25, 30 or 40 mole percent of meta-phenol units. Such meta-phenol units can be readily provided, e.g. by reaction of meta-hydroxystyrene or meta-hydroxy-alphamethylsytrene.
Polymers of the invention can be prepared by a variety of methods. One suitable method is an addition reaction which may include free radical polymerization, e.g., by reaction of selected monomers to provide the various units as discussed above in the presence of a radical initiator under an inert atmosphere (e.g., N2 or argon) and at elevated temperatures such as about 70xc2x0 C. or greater, although reaction temperatures may vary depending on the reactivity of the particular reagents employed and the boiling point of the reaction solvent (if a solvent is employed). Suitable reaction solvents include e.g. tetrahydrofuran, ethyl lactate and the like. Suitable reaction temperatures for any particular system can be readily determined empirically by those skilled in the art based on the present disclosure. A variety of free radical initiators may be employed. For example, azo compounds may be employed such as azo-bis-2,4-dimethylpentanenitrile. Peroxides, peresters, peracids and persulfates also could be employed. See the examples which follow for exemplary reaction conditions.
Suitable monomers for reaction to provide polymers of the invention include 2-methyladamantylmethacrylate; 2-methyladamantylacrylate; 8-methyltricyclodecanyl methacrylate; ethyl fencyl methacrylate; ethyl fencyl acrylate; optionally substituted vinyl phenyl; optionally substituted styrene; optionally substituted alpha-methyl styrene; methacrylonitrile; acrylonitrile; itaconic anhydride which preferably has been purified such as by extraction with chloroform; or a alpha-butyrolactone methacrylate.
Other monomers that can be reacted to provide a polymer of the invention can be identified by those skilled in the art. For example, to provide other acid labile groups than MAMA-based units, other corresponding monomers can be reacted such as t-butymethacrylate, t-butylacrylate, t-butoxy methacrylate, t-butylmethacrylate; ethoxyethyl methacrylate, and the like; to provide pendant acid group corresponding monomers acid monomers can be reacted such as methacrylic acid and acrylic acid; and dissolution enhancers such as anhydrides which may be provided by reaction of suitable monomers such as itaconic anhydride and the like. See the examples which follow for exemplary reagents for synthesis of polymers of the invention.
Preferably a polymer of the invention suitably will have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1,000 to about 100,000, more preferably about 2,000 to about 30,000, still more preferably from about 2,000 to 15,000 or 20,000, with a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of about 3 or less, more preferably a molecular weight distribution of about 2 or less. Molecular weights (either Mw or Mn) of the polymers of the invention are suitably determined by gel permeation chromatography.
Polymers of the invention used in photoresist formulations should contain a sufficient amount of photogenerated acid labile ester groups to enable formation of resist relief images as desired. For instance, suitable amount of such acid labile ester groups will be at least 1 mole percent of total units of the polymer, more preferably about 2 to 50 mole percent, still more typically about 3 to 30 or 40 mole percent of total polymer units. See the examples which follow for exemplary preferred polymers.
As discussed above, further provided are photoresist compositions that comprise the described polymers as a resin binder component.
The photoresist compositions of the invention can provide highly resolved relief images upon exposure to short wavelengths, particularly 248 nm. The photoresists of the invention preferably are chemically-amplified positive resists, which utilize photoacid-induced cleavage of pendant alkyl ester polymer groups to provide solubility differentials between exposed and unexposed areas of a resist coating layer.
Polymers of the invention used in photoresist formulations should contain a sufficient amount of photogenerated acid labile ester groups to enable formation of resist relief images as desired. For instance, a suitable amount of such acid labile ester groups will be at least 1 mole percent of total units of the polymer, more preferably about 2 to 50 or 60 mole percent. See the examples which follow for exemplary preferred polymers.
As discussed above, the polymers of the invention are highly useful as a resin binder component in photoresist compositions, particularly chemically-amplified positive resists. Photoresists of the invention in general comprise a photoactive component and a resin binder component that comprises a polymer as described above.
The resin binder component should be used in an amount sufficient to render a coating layer of the resist developable with an aqueous alkaline developer.
The resist compositions of the invention also comprise a photoacid generator (i.e. xe2x80x9cPAGxe2x80x9d) that is suitably employed in an amount sufficient to generate a latent image in a coating layer of the resist upon exposure to activating radiation. Preferred PAGs for imaging at 248 nm imaging include imidosulfonates such as compounds of the following
wherein R is camphor, adamantane, alkyl (e.g. C1-12 alkyl) and perfluoroalkyl such as perfluoro(C1-12alkyl), particularly perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorononanesulfonate and the like. A specifically preferred PAG is N-[(perfluorooctanesulfonyl)oxy]-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboximide.
Sulfonate compounds are also suitable PAGs, particularly sulfonate salts. Two suitable agents for 193 nm and 248 nm imaging are the following PAGS 1 and 2:
Such sulfonate compounds can be prepared as disclosed in European Patent Application 96118111.2 (publication number 0783136), which details the synthesis of above PAG 1.
Also suitable are the above two iodonium compounds complexed with anions other than the above-depicted camphorsulfonate groups. In particular, preferred anions include those of the formula RS03- where R is adamantane, alkyl (e.g. C1-12 alkyl) and perfluoroalkyl such as perfluoro (C1-12alkyl), particularly perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorobutanesulfonate and the like.
Other known PAGS also may be employed in the resists of the invention.
A preferred optional additive of resists of the invention is an added base, particularly tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH), or tetrabutylammonium lactate, which can enhance resolution of a developed resist relief image. The added base is suitably used in relatively small amounts, e.g. about 0.03 to 5 percent by weight relative to the total solids.
Photoresists of the invention also may contain other optional materials. For example, other optional additives include anti-striation agents, plasticizers, speed enhancers, etc. Such optional additives typically will be present in minor concentrations in a photoresist composition except for fillers and dyes which may be present in relatively large concentrations, e.g., in amounts of from about 5 to 30 percent by weight of the total weight of a resist""s dry components.
The resists of the invention can be readily prepared by those skilled in the art. For example, a photoresist composition of the invention can be prepared by dissolving the components of the photoresist in a suitable solvent such as, for example, ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether; propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and 3-ethoxyethyl propionate. Typically, the solids content of the composition varies between about 5 and 35 percent by weight of the total weight of the photoresist composition. The resin binder and photoactive components should be present in amounts sufficient to provide a film coating layer and formation of good quality latent and relief images. See the examples which follow for exemplary preferred amounts of resist components.
The compositions of the invention are used in accordance with generally known procedures. The liquid coating compositions of the invention are applied to a substrate such as by spinning, dipping, roller coating or other conventional coating technique. When spin coating, the solids content of the coating solution can be adjusted to provide a desired film thickness based upon the specific spinning equipment utilized, the viscosity of the solution, the speed of the spinner and the amount of time allowed for spinning.
The resist compositions of the invention are suitably applied to substrates conventionally used in processes involving coating with photoresists. For example, the composition may be applied over silicon wafers or silicon wafers coated with silicon dioxide for the production of microprocessors and other integrated circuit components. Aluminum-aluminum oxide, gallium arsenide, ceramic, quartz, copper, glass substrates and the like are also suitably employed.
Following coating of the photoresist onto a surface, it is dried by heating to remove the solvent until preferably the photoresist coating is tack free. Thereafter, it is imaged through a mask in conventional manner. The exposure is sufficient to effectively activate the photoactive component of the photoresist system to produce a patterned image in the resist coating layer and, more specifically, the exposure energy typically ranges from about 1 to 100 mJ/cm2, dependent upon the exposure tool and the components of the photoresist composition.
As discussed above, coating layers of the resist compositions of the invention are preferably photoactivated by a short exposure wavelength, particularly sub-300 nm exposure wavelengths such as 248 nm. However, the resist compositions of the invention also may be suitably imaged at higher wavelengths. For example, a resin of the invention can be formulated with an appropriate PAG and used as a chemically-amplified positive I-line resist, i.e. a resist imaged at about 365 nm. Resists of the invention also will be useful for exposure with electron beams (E-beam exposure) and extreme-UV exposure (EUV) such as sub-50 nm or sub-20 nm exposure, particularly 13 nm exposure.
Following exposure, the film layer of the composition is preferably baked at temperatures ranging from about 70xc2x0 C. to about 160xc2x0 C. Thereafter, the film is developed. The exposed resist film is rendered positive working by employing a polar developer, preferably an aqueous based developer such as quaternary ammonium hydroxide solutions such as a tetra-alkyl ammonium hydroxide solution; various amine solutions preferably a 0.26 N tetramethylammonium hydroxide, such as ethyl amine, n-propyl amine, diethyl amine, di-n-propyl amine, triethyl amine, or methyldiethyl amine; alcohol amines such as diethanol amine or triethanol amine; cyclic amines such as pyrrole, pyridine, etc. In general, development is in accordance with procedures recognized in the art.
Following development of the photoresist coating over the substrate, the developed substrate may be selectively processed on those areas bared of resist, for example by chemically etching or plating substrate areas bared of resist in accordance with procedures known in the art. For the manufacture of microelectronic substrates, e.g., the manufacture of silicon dioxide wafers, suitable etchants include a gas etchant, e.g. a halogen plasma etchant such as a chlorine or fluorine-based etchant such a Cl2 or CF4/CHF3 etchant applied as a plasma stream. After such processing, resist may be removed from the processed substrate using known stripping procedures.

Phenolic/alicyclic copolymers and photoresists


A number of variations may include a vehicle for transporting or moving a load including a frame and may include a telescopic beam, a drive wheel and a support wheel, an arm connected to the drive wheel, and a conveyor having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the arm and the second end is connected to the support wheel. The telescopic beam may elongate and contract to reposition the position of the drive wheel in relation to the support wheel and thereby change the configuration of the vehicle and correspondingly the position of the conveyor.

Powered industrial vehicles are used to move and transfer containers, carts, material and other loads between locations. Such vehicles are often used in unloading and transferring containers from trucks or other shipping vehicles to a factory floor or other destination.
One type of vehicle used in the unloading and transporting of containers is a powered vehicle guided by a vehicle operator that allows the operator to transport or move relatively heavy loads along an undefined path, such vehicles are often referred to as a "tugger."
In many cases, the containers may need to the pulled along narrow aisle ways or work areas, raised to various levels or heights to accommodate changes in the floor level, or elevated to a height where they can be loaded onto an elevated surface, such as a vehicle bed.
In addition, valuable time is wasted during the shipping process as many times the final leg of delivery includes loading and unloading containers onto and off of trailers, trucks and over curbs. A process that poses many challenges which can slow the delivery process


Methods and devices for flavoring liquids are disclosed. Flavoring solids such as particulate coffee solids are packed into an impermeable container, preferably occupying most or all of the available volume. Absorbed in the solids is a quantity of extractant liquid, preferably alcoholic liquor but others are possible. The amount of extractant is no more than can be taken up by the solids; there is no free liquid. The extractant pre-extracts flavoring components from the solids. One or more seals are removable to expose openings of the container. The openings may be closed by an integral filter, or a filter may be provided by an auxiliary device which holds the container. With the seals removed, the solids charge can be rinsed with liquid to be flavored, washing out the pre-extracted flavoring components.

In my U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,601 I describe a flavoring device which is a squeezable plastic bottle containing particulate flavoring solids macerating in alcoholic liquor. Coffee and whisky were examples given. The bottle neck has a removable foil seal and a built-in filter. To make the drink the seal is pulled off and coffee-flavored whisky dispensed through the filter into a cup of hot water. Flavor can be adjusted by sucking water from the cup back into the container through the filter, to wash the solids, and dispensing it again.


A process for enhancing the thermo-oxidation stability of a polybenzimidazole-containing article wherein the article contains from about 5 to about 100 weight percent of polybenzimidazole and from about 0 to about 95 weight percent of a thermoplastic polymer, by the steps of providing a phosphoric acid solution of about 2.0 to about 10.0 weight percent of acid; contacting the polybenzimidazole-containing article with the acid solution for sufficient time to produce an acid-treated article; drying the acid-treated article at a low temperature to remove excess acid; and heat treating the dried article at a temperature ranging from about 400.degree. to about 500.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere to form a phosphate barrier layer on the surface of the article, wherein the article retains at least about 50 percent of its weight after isothermal aging at about 600.degree. F. for a period of at least about 300 hours.

Aromatic polybenzimidazoles (PBI) are characterized by exceptional chemical and short term oxidative stability, excellent thermal and solvent resistance with excellent mechanical properties. A general deficiency, however, is that these polymers have high moisture take-up and tend to be intractable, i.e., not readily soluble or melt processable at moderate temperatures and pressures, wherein fabricating into films, fibers and shaped objects is difficult in many cases. Aromatic polyimides and polyetherimides are thermoplastic polymers which are characterized by good long term thermo-oxidative stability, melt processability, mechanical properties, electric properties and low moisture take-up.
To enhance the processability, reduce cost and moisture takeup of PBI, it is often desirable to blend a thermoplastic polymer with PBI when the ultimate objective is an engineering plastic. While the addition of a thermoplastic polymer will reduce moisture takeup and enhance melt processability of PBI, an excessive amount will often lower thermal resistance and other high temperature properties of the blend resulting in reduced engineering plastic properties.

Thermo-oxidatively stabilized polybenzimidazole-containing articles


To provide a memory access control system in which partitions, which are divided memory areas generated in a device, can be independently managed. In response to access to the divided memory areas, which are a plurality of partitions, various types of access control tickets are issued under the management of each device or partition manager, and processing based on rules indicated in each ticket is performed in a memory-loaded device. A memory has a partition, which serves as a memory area managed by the partition manager, and a device manager management area managed by the device manager. Accordingly, partition authentication and device authentication can be executed according to either a public-key designation method or a common-key designation method.

Hitherto, as devices containing a memory, tape media, floppy disks, hard disks, optical discs, semiconductor media, and so on, are utilized. Among these devices, semiconductor media are receiving attention since built-in memories can be securely managed. The reason for this is that, in a semiconductor memory, it is easy to implement a tamper-resistant structure, and more specifically, a structure in which access is not easily made from an external source.
The tamper-resistant structure can be implemented, for example, as follows. A device is formed by a single semiconductor chip, and a control unit, a memory controller, a non-volatile memory, voltage detection means, frequency detection means, etc., are provided for the semiconductor chip. Then, the non-volatile memory is sandwiched by dummy layers, such as alumina layers, so that it cannot be easily read or written from or into an external source.
A known memory structure of such a secure device is described below with reference to the "known memory structure" shown in FIG. 96. The memory shown in FIG. 96 has a configuration which can be used as, for example, e-money. As shown in FIG. 96, the memory area is largely divided into three areas, i.e., a data area, a memory management area, and a system area.
In the data area, data based on the "data structure" stored in the head of each item of data is stored. In this example, data items, such as the user name, the user address, the user telephone number, the billing, the memo, and the log, are stored. In the memory management area, the storage address, the access method, the access authentication key, and so on, for accessing each data item in the data area are stored. For example, access can be made to data 1 (user name) in the data area by read only (Read) with the access authentication key (0123 . . . ). In the system area, a device identifier (ID), and a memory management key, which is an authentication key for reserving the memory area in the data area, etc., are stored.
The data area of the memory device shown in FIG. 96 can be divided into a plurality of areas, and such divided areas can be managed by different service entities, for example, if e-money services are provided, by different e-money service providing entities (ex. different banks). Data in each divided area is read and written (ex. updating of balance data) not only by the individual service providing entities, but also by users, for example, by a reader/writer (dedicated reader/writer or a PC), which serves as a device access machine installed in a store that conducts sales using e-money.
The relationship between the manager and the user of a secure device having a plurality of divided data areas, such as that shown in FIG. 96, is indicated by the "memory manager/user" in FIG. 97. FIG. 97 illustrates a memory manager, which is the entity for issuing the secure device, and data users, to which the memory areas are assigned from the memory manager, and which utilize the assigned memory areas. As the memory users, a data 1 user through a data 6 user are shown. The memory users are banks or stores if e-money services are provided as in the above-described example.
The memory manager has an access-control memory management key for reserving memory areas, and assigns the memory areas (divided data areas) to the memory users by using the memory management key. The memory user has an access authentication key for accessing data in each data area, and is able to access the memory in the assigned data area by using the access authentication key. There are various access modes, such as read, write, and decrement, and the access authentication keys are individually set according to the processing mode, so that a determination can be individually made as to whether the processing is to be allowed.
Data 4 in the memory shown in FIG. 96, for example, is billing data, and the data 4 user is able to perform, as shown in FIG. 97, decrement processing and read/write processing on data 4. As shown in the table at the bottom right side of FIG. 96, different access keys are assigned to the decrement processing and the read/write processing for data 4, and it is necessary to access data 4 by using the appropriate access key for each processing.
FIG. 98 illustrates memory reserving processing performed by the memory manager for assigning the data areas in a memory device to the memory users. As shown in the "memory reserving system" shown in FIG. 98, the memory manager executes the data-area reserving processing for the memory device indicated at the right side of FIG. 98 by using a memory-reserving reader/writer (R/W: Reader/Writer) indicated at the left side of FIG. 98. The memory-reserving reader/writer (R/W: Reader/Writer) is provided with a secure NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) for reserving a memory management key. The memory-reserving R/W may be a secure-device-dedicated reader/writer R/W, or if the secure device is a device provided with an I/F, such as a USB or PCMCIA, the memory-reserving R/W may be a unit which can read and write via such an interface, for example, a PC.
For reserving a memory by using the R/W, a device ID is first read from the secure device. Then, in the R/W, an authentication key is created by using the memory management key and the device ID, and performs mutual authentication with the secure device by using the created authentication key. The mutual authentication processing may be performed by, for example, a common key cryptosystem (ex. ISO/IEC9798-2).
After successfully performing the mutual authentication, the R/W encrypts the data structure, the data size, the access method, and the access authentication key by using a session key, adds a data-checking MAC (Message Authentication Code) value if necessary, and sends the command to the secure device. Upon receiving the command, the secure device decrypts the received data and checks the integrity of the data according to the MAC checking processing if necessary. The secure device then reserves a memory area in the data area of the memory according to the data size indicated in the received data, writes the data structure into the reserved area, and writes the memory address, the access method, and the access authentication key into the memory management area.
In this manner, a plurality of divided data areas are set in the memory device. A description is now given of a memory access method for accessing the memory device provided with a plurality of divided data areas according to the "memory access method" shown in FIG. 99. The reader/writer shown at the left side of FIG. 99 is a memory-access reader/writer (R/W) possessed by the memory user, which is formed of a dedicated R/W or a PC, as in the above-described memory-reserving R/W. The memory-access reader/writer is provided with a secure NVRAM for holding access authentication keys. For accessing a data area of the secure device by using the R/W, the device ID is first read from the secure device. Then, in the R/W, an authentication key is created by using the access authentication key and the device ID, and performs mutual authentication with the secure device by using the created authentication key. After successfully performing the mutual authentication, the R/W makes a predetermined access to the data in the data area corresponding to the access authentication key.
In this case, the access method is defined in the memory management area. Accordingly, if, for example, the access authentication for decrementing the data in data 4 (billing data) has succeeded, the data in data 4 can be decremented, but it cannot be incremented or overwritten as desired, as indicated in the "memory access method" in FIG. 99. In this manner, by setting different access authentication keys used for authentication processing according to the access modes, the security of the individual data items can be enhanced. For example, even if a decrementing R/W is stolen and the data in the NVRAM in the stolen decrementing R/W is decrypted, the possibility of illegally performing incrementing processing of data 4 (billing data) in the secure device in FIG. 99 is small.
Generally, the security of money depositing terminals can be improved, as in ATMs. However, money withdrawing terminals are often used as money collecting machines in stores when goods are delivered, and are installed in different places. They are thus highly vulnerable to theft, and it is difficult to improve the security of the money withdrawing terminals. Thus, it is effective in setting different authentication keys according to the type of data access.
According to the usage mode for the above-described known memory device provided with a plurality of divided data areas, the reserving processing for the data area of the memory is performed by executing the authentication processing using the memory management key, and the access processing in each data area is performed by executing the authentication processing using the-access authentication key. More specifically, however, a common key using, for example, DES encryption algorithms, is used for the above-described processings, and authentication using a public key cryptosystem or verification using a public key cryptosystem is not considered in the above-described configuration.
In the configuration in which a common key is used for a memory management key and an access authentication key, as described above, authentication and access permission can be advantageously performed by the single processing. However, if a leakage of the authentication key occurs, memory access can be made by using the leaked authentication key. Such a configuration is thus problematic in terms of the security.
In order to decrease the cost of the reader/writer (R/W) for accessing the memory device, a configuration in which encryption algorithms are not loaded in the reader/writer (R/W) can be considered. In such a configuration, however, it is impossible to perform authentication processing with the device and encryption processing for encrypting communication data. Thus, such a configuration is not appropriate for a reader/writer which communicates with a device storing user billing data and other private information.

Memory access control system and management method using access control ticket


Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on media, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt; a first roll supporting the fuser belt, the first roll including a first heating element and a second heating element extending axially along the first roll and along a width of the fuser belt, the first heating element being longer than the second heating element; and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, the second roll including a third heating element and a fourth heating element extending axially along the second roll and along the width of the fuser belt, the third heating element being longer than the fourth heating element.

Fuser assemblies, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media are disclosed.
In a typical xerographic printing process, toner images are formed on media, and then the toner is heated to fuse the toner on the media. One process used for thermal fusing toner onto media uses a fuser including a pressure roll, a fuser roll and a fuser belt positioned between these rolls. During operation, a medium with a toner image is fed to a nip between the pressure and fuser rolls, and the pressure roll presses the medium onto the heated fuser belt to fuse the toner onto the medium.
It would be desirable to provide fuser assemblies including fuser belts that can be used to print media of different widths efficiently.

Fuser assemblies, xerographic apparatuses and methods of fusing toner on media


The invention relates to optical fiber cleavage method making it possible to obtain an oblique optical fiber end face, consisting in holding a segment of optical fiber between two separated supports, in displacing one of said supports with respect to the other, and in causing the cleavage of the fibre in a break zone dictated by an onset of breakage made by means of a tool, such as a blade.. The fiber (4) is held embedded in said supports (1, 2) without exerting any stress on it, in particular any traction or torsion, one of the supports (1) is displaced solely in translation along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the fiber (4) whilst holding the other support (2) fixed, and the onset of breakage is made either before, during, or after said displacement of the movable support.

The present invention relates to an optical fiber cleavage method and in particular a method making it possible to obtain by cleavage an oblique optical fiber end face.
In order to reduce reflection in the vicinity of an optical fiber connection, use is made of optical fibers of the type in which the end face of the fiber is oblique, that is to say not perpendicular to the axis of the fiber.
It is important in practice to minimize reflection of the signal transmitted over the end face of an optical fibre especially when using high-output DFB lasers.
Various methods are known for producing an oblique face at the end of an optical fiber.
Thus, a first method consists in immobilizing the fiber by cementing into a support and in polishing the fiber, this method being used above all when the end of the fiber is mounted in a ferrule.
A second, more economical method makes it possible to obtain an oblique face directly by fracture or cleavage of the optical fiber. According to this method, tension and torsion are exerted on a segment of the fiber held in separated supports, and an onset of breakage is made at a point of the segment by means of a tool such as a blade, in such a way as to determine the site of the fracture accurately.
Although the latter method is fairly easy to implement for a single fiber, it is however very difficult, or even impossible, to use for a flat cable containing several closely spaced fibers owing to the need to apply, to each fiber of the cable individually, a torsion at its end.


The disclosure provides an array substrate and a touch display device and relates to the field of touch technology. The array substrate includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, and a plurality of touch electrode lines arranged along a direction of data lines. There is at least one of the touch electrode lines distributed in each of the pixels. In the pixels of the same row, the touch electrode lines have different arrangement positions relative to corresponding pixels.

With the maturing of touch technology, touch display devices have been spread throughout people's daily lives. Compared with conventional input devices such as mice, buttons and joysticks, touch screens are gradually becoming the mainstream input devices because of their advantages such as ease of use, operational versatility, decreasing prices, and steadily increasing yield rates.
It should be noted that the information disclosed in the foregoing background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art already known to those skilled in the art.

Array substrate and touch display device

Hefei BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


An economical and ergonomical three-part tube squeezer for collapsible tubes containing viscous fluids, the squeezer including an elliptically shaped housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and having a longitudinal slot therethrough to receive the end of a tube and wind the tube therearound, a key outside the housing on an end of the shaft, for winding the shaft, and a removable (friction-fit or threaded) locking piece on the other end of the shaft, outside the housing, for holding the structure in assembly. The tube squeezer is self-standing and operated while in the standing position or held in one's hand. The tube squeezer rolls up the collapsible tube by the key to dispense the viscous fluid contents upwardly when in the standing position. The tube squeezer can be disposed with the collapsible tube or reused with another tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an economical disposable self-standing, wind up generic tube squeezer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The related art describes various tube squeezers, some of which appear to be similar. However, in this crowded art, there are significant differences between the related art devices and the present invention which will be pointed out. The pertinent art of interest will be discussed in the order of their perceived relevance to the present invention.
Austria Patent No. 212,770 issued on May 15, 1960, describes a three-part standing tube squeezer having a housing which is triangular in cross-section with an open top and bottom. The grip knob is attached to a slotted roller having a head at the opposite end. A tethered cap is attached to the holder at some point as best understood. A significant difference resides in the construction of the roller and grip knob vis-a-vis the detachable locking guard piece which permits the versatility of being able to remove the keyed shaft from the housing for replacement if deemed necessary for repair in the present invention. Another significant difference resides in the ergonomic shape of the housing of the present invention which permits hand-holdable use.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,157 issued on Nov. 18, 1975, to Yim-Hei J. Yeung describes a standing plastic tube squeezing device consisting of three parts. The housing is asymmetrically shaped with the flat front wall having an open slot leading to the front opening. The front opening leads into an integrated hollow cylindrical portion or tube which has an aperture in the flat rear wall for the end of the keyed shaft. The keyed end of the hollow shaft has an annular step on a disc. The shaft has a slot which extends from the stepped end to the opposite end of the shaft which is flared and snapped into place. It is believed that the strain of winding up the collapsed tube portion would be destructive on the flared and slotted end of the shaft. The differences in the structures between the devices of the reference and the present invention are as follows: (1) The opening for the tube in the housing extends from the side opening for the handle up to the top which results in weakness of the housing; (2) The shaft is enclosed in a cylinder which limits the volume of flattened tube being wound; (3) The device must be made of flexible plastic which will exclude a metal composition; and (4) The tube end is inserted in the extended slot of the shaft before insertion of the shaft into the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,223 issued on Jun. 1, 1993, to Sang S. Lee describes a squeezing and dispensing device for a toothpaste tube. A trapezoidal shaped housing has a winding key with a gear holder for a slotted shaft attached to the winding key with an inner annular gear and an outer threaded handle. The toothpaste tube is inserted from a side opening and into the slot of the shaft. The rotation of the winding key is held by a gear holder spring with an external push button for release of the spring. The dispensing device is similar in concept but overly equipped with gearing and a rachet pawl release. The present invention is inexpensive to manufacture and can be disposed with the empty toothpaste or the like tube still inside the holder-squeezer device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,945 issued on Nov. 24, 1981, to Eugene Dworkin describes a standing toothpaste dispenser made from resilient Lucite (TM) plastic. A W-shaped retainer clip is maintained within a pyramidal housing with mouth-forming opposite side walls and opposite open regions. A key on a partially slotted pin traps the crimped end of the tube and maintains the rolled up tube end between the side walls and the retainer clip. The dispenser structure bears little resemblance to the present invention except for the winding key. There is no suggestion for holding the dispenser in one's hand for depositing the viscous fluid on other materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,457 issued on Aug. 25, 1970 and reissued as Re. 27,689 on Jun. 26, 1973, to Else Hausmann et al. describe a device for holding and emptying tubes similar to the device of Dworkin. The notable differences are the addition of a plate spring which snap-fits into the housing below the shaft and the key handle is cylindrically shaped. The base can be equipped with a magnet or a suction cup. The resulting structure is seen to be clearly distinguishable from the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,652,950 issued on Sep. 22, 1953, to Frederick A. Major describes a holder and dispenser for a collapsible tube consisting of a hinged tube holding bracket on a fixed base. The bracket is tipped by means of a finger grip to insert the tube end into a slot of the shaft, and the bracket is returned to a vertical position. The tube contents are dispensed by utilizing an elongated operating arm oscillating a ratchet wheel attached to the shaft. The device has manifold parts which would distinguish this reference from the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,610 issued on Nov. 23, 1993, to Naomi Okamura et al. describes a tool for squeezing out high-viscosity liquid from a tube container consisting of a rectangular hollow holder body with apertured circular bearing end portions for holding a tubular slotted spool shaft with a wing handle. The bearing end portions can be opened in the rear similar to a box wrench head with teeth which engage projecting teeth or a localized roughened surface of the spool shaft. Slits are provided in the apertures of the bearing portions for spool shaft. There are no holding means for the spool shaft on either end which together with the predominantly open housing would distinguish this two-piece device from the present invention.
Australia Patent Application No. 114,347 published on Dec. 18, 1941, for Walter Ellis et al. describes a wall hung collapsible tube expressing bracket with cheeks and a forward curved lower portion. The cheeks hold a restraining bar and a keyed shaft. The shaft can have legs unequal in length to hold the tube end or configured as a stem with turned over sides to engage the tube end. The three-part structure with its holding rod and forward curved lower portion is distinguished by its clear difference as compared to the present invention.
France Patent Application No. 598,560 published on Dec. 19, 1925, for an apparatus for use with tubed products. An open curved bracket with apertures on the top and bottom flanges anchor the device on a wall. A handle on a slotted spindle winds up the toothpaste tube while the toothpaste is squeezed out downwardly. There is no suggestion for modifying this device to be free standing.
United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB 2,113,172 A published on Aug. 3, 1983, for Joseph W. Hurley describes a wall-mounted toothpaste dispenser which is a box with an aperture on top for the nozzle. A knobbed spindle on the bottom resting in vertical slots winds up the tube squeezing out the toothpaste. A full front cover permits access to the interior of the box. There is no suggestion for a free standing dispenser.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a tube squeezer solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A resin mold for molding a curable resin, which has been made by molding a resin composition comprising an alicyclic structure-containing polymer and a nitrogen-containing organic compound (X) having at least one nitrogen atom which is bonded to at least one tertiary or quaternary carbon atom. A curable resin is molded and cured using a combined mold which is a combination of two resin molds (A) and (B), wherein at least one (A) of the two resin molds is made by molding a resin composition comprising an alicyclic structure-containing polymer and the nitrogen-containing organic compound (X). Preferably, the two molds (A) and (B) are made by molding resin compositions comprising an alicyclic structure-containing polymer and different amounts of the nitrogen-containing organic compound (X).

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a resin mold for molding a curable resin, a molded cured resin article made using the mold, and a method for producing the molded cured resin article. More particularly, it relates to a resin mold for molding a curable resin suitable for use as a combined resin mold for molding a curable resin, having an enhanced selectivity to mold release; a molded cured resin article made using the resin mold; and a method for producing the molded cured resin article.
(2) Description of the Related Art
As a process for producing a shaped cured resin article of a sheet or plate form such as a compact disk, a lenticular lens, LED, a Fresnel lens, a prism sheet and a light guide plate, a process is adopted wherein a resin mold made of polycarbonate or polymethacrylate is charged with a curable resin such as an acrylate, and the curable resin is irradiated, for example, with ultraviolet rays to be thereby cured.
In the case when a resin mold is made from polycarbonate or polymethacrylate, the mold tends to be distorted by moisture or heat generated upon the curing reaction, and therefore, problems arise in that fine indentations or protrusions on the surface of the mold are distorted and, when the mold is released from the molded cured resin article, the mold releasing cannot be smoothly effected, especially a thin large-size sheet-form molded cured resin article is often difficult to remove without breaking, and fine indentations or protrusions on the resin mold surface cannot be replicated with high accuracy.
To solve the above-mentioned problems, it has been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-108137 to use a resin mold for molding a curable resin, made from a resin composition comprising an alicyclic structure-containing polymer, and, for further enhancing the mold releasability, to incorporate a mold release agent in the resin composition for the resin mold.
A process for producing a molded cured resin article using a resin mold for molding a curable resin comprises a step of curing a curable resin within a cavity formed between a male mold and a female mold in a combined mold, and a step of releasing the molded cured resin article from the combined mold. To automatically conduct the mold release, a selectivity to mold release is required, that is, a specific resin mold must be first released from the as-molded cured resin article while the as-molded cured resin article holds the other resin mold. The inventor has found that the curing and mold release in the process proposed in the above-mentioned patent publication have a problem of reduced selectivity to mold release.

Resin mold for molding curable resin and method of producing molded cured resin article


A printer comprises at least one print control that can be operated by a user. In response to operation of the print control, the printer generates and transmits a request from the printer to a general purpose computer that has data stored in it. The request contains information to cause the computer to execute a print operation. The printer prints the data received from the computer.

Printers for computers have increased in functionality over the years. One of the features available on some high-end printers is the multiple copy or "mopier" feature. Printers having this function include a memory device (e.g., flash memory or a hard disk drive) that can store data. After a print operation is initiated on the computer, the data that are transmitted to the printer for printing are also stored in the memory of the printer. The user has the option of printing additional copies by using the multiple copy control on the printer to reprint the data that have been stored in the memory of the printer.
A printer having additional or alternative capabilities is desired.

Apparatus and method for initiating a printing operation from a printer

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.