A thermoresponsive coloring formulation for use on a reimageable image carrier is provided. An image may be created by exposing the thermoresponsive coloring formulation to heat and erased by exposing it to white light.

Not applicable.
The present invention relates in general to screen printing devices and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for preparing screens used in such devices.
In typical screen printing processes, ink is applied to a substrate, such as a shirt, poster or decals, through screens which have been prepared in a manner to allow ink to pass through only the desired portions of the screen to form the desired graphic on the substrate. In single, multi-color and four-color process screen printing processes, a separate screen is used for each color of ink which is applied to form the graphic on the substrate. The four-color process differs from multi-color processes in that only four ink colors are used to obtain the desired multi-colored pattern on the substrate.
In most screen printing machines, the screens are clamped on hinged arms which allow the screens to be raised and lowered in relation to the substrate. For example, in manually operated screen printing machines for shirts, the arms which hold the screens are arrayed in a spoke-like fashion and both the screens and the substrate are typically free to rotate to bring successive screens into position over the shirt or other substrate. In automatic screen printing machines, only the substrates rotate, typically in a circular configuration. Each screen is successively positioned over the substrate and is lowered onto the substrate. The ink is then applied through the screen and onto the substrate using a squeegee or pressurized plenum.
Conventional methods for preparing the screens used in screen printing processes have been both time consuming and expensive. One such method involves forming the graphic to be printed as a permanent opaque image on a transparent sheet. Thereafter, an unexposed light-sensitive emulsion or stencil coating is applied to the side of the screen that will contact the substrate to be printed. The graphic on the transparent sheet is then placed over the unexposed emulsion on the area of the screen through which ink flow is desired. The screen is then exposed to a light source which cures or hardens the areas on the screen which are not covered by the graphic on the transparent sheet. The open portions or pores of the screen which are covered with the stencil coating but which are not covered by the graphic on the transparent sheet are fixed in place after the screen is exposed to light. After this exposure to light, the transparent sheet bearing the graphic is removed from the screen and the unexposed stencil coating is removed from the screen by washing the screen with water. Therefore, the portions of the screen that were originally covered with the graphic on the transparent sheet will be open and permeable to the printing ink. At this time, the screen printing screen is ready for use in transferring ink onto the substrate to be printed. This is done by mounting the screen on the screen printing machine and moving the screen into registry over the substrate which is placed on a platen. Ink is then forced through the open pores of the screen onto the underlying substrate.
The above method is disadvantageous in forming a screen printing screen because it can be both expensive and time consuming. This method requires that new artwork, in the form of the transparent sheets, be formed each time a new graphic is to be printed on an object. Further, in order to ensure the proper orientation of the graphic on the object, the transparent sheet must be properly located or registered with respect to both the printing screen and the printing machine. This problem is accentuated when it is necessary to print a multi-colored graphic on the object which requires a number of different screen printing screens, one for each color in the graphic.
To address the deficiencies in the method described above, another method for preparing a screen printing screen has been developed and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,089. This method eliminates the need for forming a transparent sheet containing the graphic, but itself contains a number of disadvantages. In this second method, an unexposed light-sensitive emulsion layer or stencil coating is applied to the entire printing surface of a screen as in the previous method. The screen is then placed into an apparatus which prints the graphic directly onto the stencil coating with a liquid ink. In this method, therefore, the applied layer of ink replaces the graphic on the transparent sheet. The printing mechanism is controlled with a computer and prints the graphic dictated by the data provided. After the graphic has been printed on the stencil coating, the stencil coating is cured by exposing it to a light source. The printed graphic acts as an exposure mask or shield so that only the stencil coating which is not covered by the graphic is cured. After the stencil coating has been exposed, the screen is washed to remove the layer of liquid ink and unexposed stencil coating from the screen. Although this method eliminates the need for preparing the graphic on the transparent sheet, it also presents a number of disadvantages.
Utilizing the second method described above, it is necessary to ensure that the ink used in forming the graphic is compatible with the underlying light-sensitive stencil coating. Because some commercially available stencil coating materials are incompatible with some commercially available inks, the above process limits the materials that can be used for the coating material and the inks that can be used therewith.
Using the above method also requires that the ink coating placed on top of the stencil coating be sufficiently optically or physically dense to prevent the underlying stencil coating from curing or hardening when exposed to light. If the ink coating is not sufficiently optically or physically dense, the stencil coating under the ink can harden, thus creating an unusable screen printing screen. It is often necessary to apply multiple layers of ink to ensure that a sufficient ink barrier is created so that a usable screen printing screen is created. Providing additional layers of ink on top of the stencil coating adds both time and expense to the process of creating a screen printing screen.
Thus, a method and apparatus for preparing a screen printing screen are needed which can overcome the above disadvantages. Specifically, a method for preparing a screen printing screen is needed that will lessen the time needed for preparing such a screen, while at the same time improving the quality of the screen that is made.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for making a screen printing screen in which the time required to produce the screen printing screen is reduced by eliminating the need to manufacture a transparent sheet with a permanent graphic printed thereon.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for making a screen printing screen that eliminates the need to separately print onto the screen an image used to block a curing agent from the coating material so that the screen printing screen may be more efficiently formed.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for making a screen printing screen that allows the graphic used in forming the screen printing screen to be quickly changed and modified so that the screen is more efficiently formed.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by a method of preparing a screen printing screen whereby a screen is coated with an uncured stencil coating material and placed in registration with an image carrier. The image carrier is supplied with an image through the use of a computer so that the image may be readily modified or changed. After the image carrier is supplied with an image, the screen and the image carrier are exposed to a curing agent, such as a light source which may be integral with the image carrier or may be contained within a separate exposing frame. The curing agent is prevented from passing beyond the image carrier in those areas covered by the image, while the areas of the stencil coating that are exposed to the curing agent are hardened by the curing agent. After the stencil coating has been hardened in the desired areas, the screen is removed and the uncured stencil coating is rinsed away from the screen, leaving a portion of the screen with open pores through which ink can flow.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for preparing a screen printing screen is provided that includes an exposing frame which houses a light source. On top of the exposing frame is placed a vacuum frame which can be connected to a suitable vacuum source. A thermoresponsive or photochromic material, which includes a substrate coated with a coloring formulation, is placed on top of the vacuum frame and functions as the image carrier by blocking light passage therethrough in selected areas.
The coloring formulation used to create the thermoresponsive or photochromic material includes a mixture of a color changing dye or pigment, a compound that activates the color changing dye, and a solvent. The compound that activates the color changing dye acts in conjunction with the color changing dye so that when these components are mixed a coloring formulation is created. In some instances, the compound that activates the color changing dye also functions as a resin or a binder. The substrate, which is coated with the coloring formulation, may be any material that is white, clear, or lightly colored.
The image carrier, which is a thermoresponsive or photochromic material, will initially be the color of the substrate. An image is suppled to the thermoresponsive or photochromic material by heating or UV exposing, respectively, certain areas of the material causing these areas to change to a darker color and become more optically dense or physically dense. This darker coloration on the thermoresponsive material can be erased by white light, and the darker coloration on the photochromic material can be erased by heat. This image carrier made of a thermoresponsive or photochromic material may undergo a large number of cycles of coloration and erasing. Alternatively, the image carrier may be made of a static chargeable material, which includes a substrate coated with an electrically responsive component, that can be charged in certain areas to create an image that blocks light.
A screen coated with an uncured stencil coating is placed on top of the image carrier made of the thermoresponsive, photochromic, or static chargeable material, and a flexible vacuum blanket is pivotally secured to the vacuum frame so that it can be lowered over the screen. The light source is located within the exposing frame so that light from the light source can be communicated through the vacuum frame and through selected portions of the image carrier. The image carrier made of the thermoresponsive, photochromic, or static chargeable material will allow light to pass through those areas that are not optically or physically blocked because they have not been exposed to heat, UV light, or an electrostatic charge, respectively, so as to be more optically or physically dense. The apparatus can thus be used to form a screen printing screen by curing selected portions of the stencil coating on the screen through the use of the light source and the image carrier.
In still another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for preparing a screen printing screen is provided that includes an exposing frame which houses a light source. On top of the exposing frame is placed an image carrier that is connected to a computer capable of supplying the image carrier with an image. A screen coated with an uncured stencil coating is located in spaced relation from the image carrier and a first fiber end block is placed against the screen while a second fiber end block is placed against the image carrier. The first and second end blocks are connected with a plurality of fiber optic bundles so that the second end block can communicate light to the first end block. The light sources are located within the exposing frame so that light from the light sources can be communicated through the exposing frame and through selected portions of the image carrier. The image carrier will allow light to pass through those areas which are not blocked by the image supplied thereto. The second end block allows the light which has passed through the image carrier to be passed through the fiber optic bundles to the first end block and to the screen. The pattern of light passing through the image carrier will be maintained by the end blocks and fiber optic bundles and communicated in the same pattern to the screen. The apparatus can thus be used to form a screen printing screen by curing selected portions of the stencil coating on the screen through the use of the light sources and the image carrier.

Thermoresponsive coloring formulation for use on reimageable image carrier

Abstract: A screen coated with an uncured stencil coating is placed in registration with the image carrier. The screen and image carrier are exposed to a curing agent which is prevented from passing beyond the image carrier in those areas covered by the image, while the areas of the coated screen that are exposed to the curing agent are hardened by the curing agent. After the stencil coating has been hardened in the desired areas, the screen is removed, and the uncured stencil coating is rinsed away from the screen, leaving a portion of the screen with open pores through which ink can flow.


A device is provided for measuring parameters or for taking samples in molten iron or steel and for taking samples of slag resting on the melt. The device includes a carrier tube having an immersion end, a lateral circumferential surface, and a measuring head arranged on the immersion end. At least one sensor or inlet opening for a sample chamber present inside the device is arranged at the immersion end of the measuring head. The lateral circumferential surface of the carrier tube or measuring head has an inlet opening extending through an inlet channel to merge in a pre-chamber arranged inside the carrier tube or measuring head. The pre-chamber has, at its end facing away from the immersion end, an entry opening that merges into a slag sample chamber on the side of the pre-chamber facing away from the immersion end.

The invention relates to a device for measuring parameters or for taking samples in molten iron or steel and for taking samples of slag resting on iron or steel melts. The device comprises a carrier tube having an immersion end and a lateral circumferential surface. Arranged on the immersion end of the carrier tube is a measuring head having an immersion end and a lateral circumferential surface. At least one sensor or one inlet opening for a sample chamber present inside the device is arranged at the immersion end of the measuring head.
Devices of this type are known, for example, from German Patent DE 197 58 595 B4. This patent describes devices whose front side has both a thermocouple and an inlet opening for a sample chamber arranged on it. The sample chamber is well-suited for taking slag samples. Moreover, another inlet for a sample chamber, which is well-suited for taking samples of molten metal, is arranged at the front side of the device. Another device that is known from this patent specification comprises a sampler having two lateral inlet openings.
Similar samplers are known, for example, from German Patent DE 197 52 743 C5. Samplers for slag samples are known from European Patent EP 1 183 513 B1 as well. These largely correspond to the samplers already known from DE 197 58 595 B4.
Samplers for molten metal, in which slag and other non-metallic inclusions made of liquid metal sediment, are known, for example, from German published patent application DE 41 29 930 A1 or from U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,052 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,739. In this context, contaminants to be separated from the molten metal, when the molten metal flows into the sample chamber, are collected in a pre-chamber situated upstream from the sample chamber for molten metals.

Device for measuring parameters or for taking samples in molten iron or steel


The present invention relates to the use of substances with oxytocin activity against climacteric disorders or similar symptoms due to dysfunction in the ovaries. It also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one substance with oxytocin activity against climacteric disorders.

Oxytocin was one of the first peptide hormones to be isolated and sequenced. It is a nonapeptide with two cysteine residues that form a disulfide bridge between positions 1 and 6 and corresponds to the formula

For a long time the only effects attributed to oxytocin were its stimulating effects on milk ejection and uterine contractions, but in the past decades it has been shown that oxytocin exerts a wide spectrum of effects within the central nervous system, CNS. It has been suggested that oxytocin participates in the control of memory and learning processes and of various types of behaviour such as feeding, locomotion, as well as maternal and sexual behaviour. Oxytocin is also suggested to participate in the control of cardiovascular functions, thermoregulation, and pain threshold and fluid balance. There is also evidence that oxytocin is involved in the control of various immunological processes. It has recently been demonstrated that oxytocin injections cause a lowering of blood pressure and increased weight gain—long lasting effects after repetitive administration. As a central stimulating substance oxytocin plays an important role in the interaction between mother and progeny in mammals. The products may also be used prophylactic in young human beings e.g. already in new born babies or young children to prevent the development of diseases later on in life which diseases are dependent on stress conditions during the fetal life. Such conditions may be heart/vessel diseases such as stroke, heart infarct, hypertension, and diabetes.
In the human body oxytocin is produced in the paraventricular nucleus, PVN, and the supraoptic nucleus, SON, of the hypothalamus. It differs by only two amino acids from vasopressin, which is also produced in these nuclei. The magnocellular oxytocinergic neurones of the SON and PVN send oxons to the posterior pituitary from which oxytocin is released into the circulation. Parvocellular neurones that originate in the PVN project into multiple areas within CNS. The oxytocin-producing cells are innervated by cholinergic, catecholaminergic as well as peptidergic neurones. The presence of oxytocin in different tissues outside the brain, such as the uterus, ovaries, testis, thymus, adrenal medulla and pancreas has been demonstrated and oxytocin is suggested to exert local effects in these organs.
A parallel secretion of oxytocin into the brain regions and into the circulation occurs in response to some stimuli such as suckling, but other stimuli can cause separate activation of oxytocinergic neurones, terminating in the brain or the pituitary.
It has now turned out that oxytocin has a relieving effect on climacteric disorders.
There are several oxytocin derivatives, i.e. compounds with a structure similar to that of oxytocin. The inventors have preliminary indications that other oxytocin derivatives than oxytocin could give the effects against climacteric disorders and disorders of ovarian functions as well as parts of the oxytocin molecule. No publications describe the use of oxytocin or any other oxytocin derivatives or parts of the oxytocin molecule to have effects against climacteric disorders or other types of premature ovarian dysfunction.
By the expression "climacteric disorders" we understand premenopausal (i e before the menopause), perimenopausal (i e during the menopause) and postmenopausal (i e after the menopause) weight changes, mood swings, hot flushes (transient redness and a feeling of being warm), somatic discomfort, dry and ulcerous mucous membranes, fissures, and bone loss. Such symptoms often occur at the time of the menopause, i e the cessation of menstruation in the human female, occurring usually around the age of 50.
It has now turned out that oxytocin improves the vaginal mucosal membranes of women with postmenopausal disorders and improves the mood of such women (Example 1). In an animal model of menopause, i.e. ovariectomy, oxytocin normalises hormone levels and moderates weight changes (Example 2), increases motor activity and relieves somatic discomfort (Example 3), reduces hot flushes (Example 4), reduces hyperactivity in the sympathetic nervous system (Example 5), and suppresses bone loss (Example 6). These Examples indicate that oxytocin or that substances with oxytocin activity may be used against climacteric disorders and ovarian dysfunction. The oxytocin derivatives according to the invention are not only suitable against postmenopausal disorders but also against premenopausal, perimenopausal and ovarian dysfunction.
The effect of oxytocin can be extended or strengthened by administration in combination with drugs increasing the release of oxytocin and/or the number or affinity of receptors, such as oestrogen, or drugs having an α2-agonistic effect, such as clonidine.

Use of substances with oxytocin activity against climacteric disorders


If a successive lighting operation inhibition mode is not set up, a pointer portion of a speed meter is lighted, and then a peripheral ring portion of the speed meter is lighted. On the other hand, if the successive lighting operation inhibition mode is set up, the peripheral ring portion and the pointer portion are lighted at once. Subsequently, if a sweep operation inhibition mode is not set up, a sweep operation of a meter pointer in the pointer portion is performed. Thereafter, a nameplate portion is lighted. On the other hand, if the sweep operation inhibition mode is set up, the nameplate portion is lighted instantly without performing the sweep operation.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention relates to a display control device of a vehicle for displaying a designated vehicle information, particularly to the display control device for being able to change a display order of each meter.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vehicle is provided with a display device for a vehicle to display a vehicle condition, including a speed meter, an engine speed meter, a fuel quantity meter, an engine coolant temperature meter, and an odo trip meter. In such display device for the vehicle, some measures for displaying in a preset display mode based on an ON operation of an ignition key are taken to improve the merchantability and design property. That is, when the ignition key is turned ON, a meter pointer (needle) in a pointer portion is moved from zero to the maximum value (e.g., refer to JP-A-7-225246) (sweep operation), and a ring around the periphery of a speed meter or an engine speed meter, the meter pointer and a nameplate are lighted in succession.
By the way, the driver may think the sweep operation of the meter pointer and a successive lighting of the meter peripheral ring, the meter pointer and the like in a preset display mode unfavorable. However, in the display device for the vehicle, it is not permitted to change the preset display mode of making the sweep operation of the meter pointer, or the successive lighting of the meter peripheral ring, the meter pointer and the like.


A semiconductor processing device according to an embodiment includes a processing tank configured to store a chemical therein to allow a semiconductor substrate to be immersed in the chemical. A gas supply part is provided below the semiconductor substrate accommodated in the processing tank and is configured to supply air bubbles to the chemical from below the semiconductor substrate. A chemical supply part is provided above the gas supply part and below the semiconductor substrate and is configured to discharge the chemical caused to circulate from the processing tank, towards the air bubbles appearing from the gas supply part.

In a semiconductor processing device, such as a batch cleaning device, a chemical in a processing tank is caused to circulate even during processing of a semiconductor substrate, in order to keep the concentration or the like of the chemical uniform. However, a flow rate of the chemical is high near a nozzle that supplies the chemical, and becomes lower as the distance from the nozzle increases. This variation in the flow rate of the chemical causes a variation in a processing rate, such as an etching rate, on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. Further, in a region where the flow rate of the chemical is low, precipitation of a by-product, such as silica, may occur on the surface of the semiconductor substrate.


A loop heat pipe includes a first flow path, a second flow path over the first flow path, and a divider provided between the first flow path and the second flow path. Each of the first flow path and the second flow path includes an evaporator configured to vaporize a working fluid, a condenser configured to condense the working fluid, a first transport pipe connecting the evaporator and the condenser, and a second transport pipe connecting the evaporator and the condenser and forming a loop flow path with the transport pipe.

Heat pipes are known as devices to cool heat generating components installed in electronic devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU). Heat pipes are devices that transport heat using the phase transition of a working fluid.
Examples of heat pipes include a loop heat pipe that includes an evaporator configured to vaporize a working fluid with the heat of a heat generating component and a condenser configured to cool and condense the vaporized working fluid, where the evaporator and the condenser are connected by a liquid pipe and a vapor pipe that form a loop flow path. In the loop heat pipe, the working fluid flows unidirectionally in the loop flow path.
Furthermore, a porous body is provided in the liquid pipe of the loop heat pipe. The working fluid in the liquid pipe is guided to the evaporator by a capillary force generated in the porous body to prevent vapor from reversely flowing from the evaporator into the liquid pipe. Numerous pores are formed in the porous body. Each pore is formed by stacking metal layers in which through holes are formed such that the through holes overlap each other. (See, for example, Japanese Patent No. 6146484.)


Acupuncture device uses a laser beam. Acupuncture device is configured for bringing about a suitable treatment relevant to the pain in a patient and so that it is adapted to all aspects of practice, in particular so as to enable easy replacement of laser diodes of different intensity levels or laser modules of different wavelengths and a lasting operating capacity of all its elements. Therefore, the acupuncture device includes the following elements: a control apparatus including several outlets for electrical conductors; several electrical conductors connected to the outlets of the control apparatus; several laser diodes connected to the electrical conductors; and several laser needles which are connected to the laser diodes, so that the laser beam emitted by the laser diodes is injected into the laser needles, and which are designed to contact, through their output region, a patient's body. Device may be used to irradiate blood.

An acupuncture device using a laser beam is known from WO-02/40098 A1 having a device to generate the laser beam and a connected handle. The handle is provided with an optical fiber that is connected with a laser beam generation device and that contacts a patient's body in the acupuncture process and transmits the laser beam to the body or ensures that the laser beam penetrates the body.
The effectiveness of this device in treating pain is not a matter of dispute; however, the optical fibers made of commercially available plastic fibers that transmit the laser beam from the laser beam generation device to the output section of each handle sometimes cannot handle the continuous load when these devices are used in practice, and sometimes they break and their performance decreases. Another problem with this known device is that the tip forming the output section of the optical fiber in conventional plastic materials quickly becomes comparatively blunt, especially as cosmetics on the patient's skin can be burned into the tip. Furthermore, the macromolecular structures of the plastic fibers denature and degenerate owing to the permanent load which hence decreases the output of the transmitted laser energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,411 describes a laser device and a laser method that can be used for acupuncture on a patient's body. Individual laser diodes are connected to a controller by means of electrical lines. The laser diodes are within a housing that is adhered to the patient's body.
However, the desired effect of acupuncture pain therapy can fall woefully short with such devices as the laser beam can only penetrate the outermost skin layers and owing to the large area that is irradiated.
DE 90 10 925 U1 describes a device for irradiating blood in which the blood is guided through a glass tube exposed to UV radiation.


An oral care implement including a head, a gum massaging element extending from proximate a peripheral side of the head, and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements positioned on the head. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements including a side tooth cleaning element positioned inwards and adjacent the gum massaging element. The gum massaging element provides transverse support to the side tooth cleaning element during brushing.

The present invention pertains to an oral care implement such as a toothbrush with an enhanced cleaning head. An oral care implement such as a toothbrush is used to clean teeth by removing plaque and debris from surfaces of the teeth as well as cleaning gum tissue surrounding the teeth. Conventional toothbrushes typically have a head having tufts of bristles and may also have other types of cleaning structures. Conventional toothbrushes have a limited ability to retain dentifrice on the head for cleaning the teeth. During the brushing process, the dentifrice typically slips through the tufts of bristles and away from contact with the teeth. As a result, the dentifrice often is spread around the mouth, rather than being concentrated on the contact of the bristles with the teeth. Therefore, the efficiency of the cleaning process is reduced.
The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An example embodiment includes a neural network unit to which a plurality of element values based on learning target data are input, and a learning unit that trains the neural network unit. The neural network unit has a plurality of learning cells each including a plurality of input nodes that perform predetermined weighting on each of the plurality of element values and an output node that sums the plurality of weighted element values and outputs the sum, and in accordance with an output value of each of the learning cells, the learning unit updates weighting coefficients of the plurality of input nodes of each of the learning cells or adds a new learning cell to the neural network unit.

In recent years, deep learning using a multilayer neural network has attracted attention as a machine learning scheme. Deep learning is to use a calculation scheme called backpropagation to calculate an output error resulted when a large number of training data are input to a multilayer neural network and perform learning so that the error is the minimum.
Patent Literatures 1 to 3 disclose a neural network processing device that makes it possible to construct a neural network with less effort and operational processing load by defining a large scale neural network as a combination of a plurality of subnetworks. Further, Patent Literature 4 discloses a structure optimizing device that optimizes a neural network.

Learning device and learning method, recognition device and recognition method, program, and storage medium


A rolling bearing has first and second races that define an annular space therebetween. A plurality of rolling elements roll on the races. The space is filled with a solid lubricant composition containing a resin polymer. The space is preferably sealed with a pair of sealing members which are interposed between the races and a region between the lubricant composition and the corresponding sealing member in the space is filled with grease.

This application claims priority benefits based under 35 USC xc2xa7119 of Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 11-275829, Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 11-275830 and Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 11-275831, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rolling bearing filled with a polymer containing a lubricant.
2. Description of Related Arts
In a paper making machine, for example, a paper web is pulled with a pair of ropes attached to either corner of the leading edge thereof, thereby to pass through paper making processes sequentially. The paper passes through rollers while the ropes are wound successively around a number of carrier wheels. The carrier wheels are supported freely rotatably by rolling bearings.
The rolling bearings for the carrier wheels are subjected to a severe operating environment particularly in a dryer section where the paper is dried. In the dryer section, temperature and humidity may be as high as 100 to 120xc2x0 C. and 100%, respectively, while the rolling bearings may be directly exposed to water splash.
Although the rolling bearings described above are provided with ordinary sealing members, rolling bearings are intrinsically difficult to seal completely even with the sealing member, due to the construction thereof. Thus water may enter the rolling bearing thereby causing rust therein.
To counter the problem described above, the inside of the rolling bearing may be filled with grease. This will have a rust prevention effect since the grease that fills the inside prevents moisture from entering the inside of the bearing. But the grease increases the torque required to rotate the bearing. Also because it is difficult to completely seal the bearing as described above, part of the filling grease may leak to the outside due to thermal expansion or other cause.
Meanwhile, there are rolling bearings of such a type as where a resin is impregnated with a lubricating oil so that the bearing is lubricated by the lubricating oil that oozes out of the resin. However, when the rolling bearings of this type are used for the application described above, moisture that enters the bearing leads to rusting and causes the service life to be even shorter than that of the grease-filled rolling bearing.
Similar problems are encountered in the cases of bearings used in a conveyor of a continuous car washing machine that carries vehicles on the conveyor and washes the vehicles continuously, bearings for the rolls of the pickling line of a steel mill, wheel supporting bearings of an agricultural vehicle and wheel supporting bearings of an unmanned vehicle automatically operated in and outside of a factory.
An object of the present invention is to provide a rolling bearing which is not likely to rust even in a severe environment or allow lubricant to leak, and rotates with a low torque.
In order to achieve the object described above, a preferable aspect of the present invention is directed to a rolling bearing comprising: first and second races that define an annular space (7) formed therebetween; a plurality of rolling elements arranged in the space and rolling on each of the races; and rust-preventive means that prevent rust from being generated in the space; the rust-preventive means containing a solid lubricant composition, with which the space is filled; the lubricant composition containing a resin polymer.
In this case, since the bearing is lubricated by a lubricating agent that oozes out of the lubricant composition, greasing is made unnecessary while achieving a low torque. At the same time, the lubricating agent prevents the rolling elements and the races from rusting.
The space at least in a region of which that encloses the rolling elements is preferably filled with the lubricant composition, while the rust-preventive means further includes a pair of sealing members which are arranged between corresponding end portions of the pair of races and seal the space, and grease with which a region between the lubricant composition and the corresponding sealing members in the space is filled.
In this case, since the lubricant composition that covers the rolling elements is further covered by the grease, moisture can be prevented from entering the space and, as a result, it is made possible to prevent rust from being generated and elongate the service life of the bearing. Also, because the amount of the grease filling the region not occupied by the lubricant composition in the space is small, there is no possibility of the lubricating oil leaking to the outside as in the bearing filled with grease throughout the space.
Also, a vapor phase rust-preventive agent is preferably added to the lubricant composition. This makes it possible to prevent rusting by the action of the vapor phase rust-preventive agent even when moisture enters the space, thereby elongating the service life of the bearing. The vapor phase rust-preventive agent exerts a rust preventive effect continuously in a large region in the space that includes the vapor phase rust-preventive agent and has particularly great effect of preventing rust from being generated.
Also a first additive containing a metal sulfonate and a second additive containing sorbitan are preferably added to the lubricant composition. In this case, even when moisture enters the space, rusting can be prevented from occurring by the action of both additives thereby elongating the service life of the bearing. Combined use of the first additive containing a metal sulfonate and the second additive containing sorbitan achieves particularly great rust prevention effects.


A novel adsorber module for whole blood treatment is disclosed, which comprises a casing provided with a blood inlet and a blood outlet and a bundle of a plurality of porous hollow fibers disposed in the casing and disposed between and fluid-tightly connected at end portions thereof to the blood inlet and the blood outlet, wherein each porous hollow fiber comprises a membranous porous resin matrix having pores which open at least at the inner wall of the hollow fiber and a plurality of ligands linked to the overall surface, including the walls of open pores, of the porous resin matrix. The adsorber module can easily be constructed into an adsorber apparatus which can be practically employed for treatment of whole blood. With this apparatus, whole blood can be effectively, efficiently treated without the danger of blood coagulation and hollow clogging, whereby the malignant components of the whole blood can be effectively removed by adsorption on the ligands.

Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to an adsorber module for whole blood treatment and an adsorber apparatus containing the adsorber module. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an adsorber module for whole blood treatment comprising a casing provided with a blood introduction means and a blood withdrawal means and a plurality of porous hollow fibers accommodated in the casing, wherein each porous hollow fiber comprises a membranous porous resin matrix having pores which open at least at the inner wall of the hollow fiber and a plurality of ligands linked to the overall surface of the porous resin matrix. Also, the present invention is concerned with an adsorber apparatus comprising the above-mentioned adsorber module, a blood introducing passage means having one end fluid-tightly connected to the blood introduction of the module and a blood withdrawing passage means having one end fluid-tightly connected to the blood withdrawal means of the module.
By the use of the adsorber module and apparatus according to the present invention, it is feasible to accomplish effective, efficient treatment of whole blood without the danger of blood coagulation and hollow clogging so that the malignant components of blood can be effectively removed by adsorption.

Adsorber module for whole blood treatment and an adsorber apparatus containing the adsorber module


An energy storage type of differential hybrid power distribution system to drive an all wheel driving carrier; a revolution output end of an internal combustion engine (or any other revolution power source) to drive the front wheel through an intermediate transmission and control interface device, and to also drive an input end of the energy storage type of differential hybrid power device to output kinetics to further drive the rear wheel; and an electro-mechanical unit functioning as a generator and a motor being disposed in the energy storage type of differential hybrid power device to regulate the power distribution between the front wheel and the rear wheel by controlling the electro-mechanical unit to operate as a motor or as a generator.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an energy storage type of differential hybrid power distribution system, and more particularly to one that provides real time power distribution of for the kinetics to drive the front wheel and the rear wheel by an all wheel driving carrier for promoting drivability and drive safety under severe road and weather conditions as well as for operating with hybrid power.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Conventional all wheel driving (AWD) is generally referred to four wheel driving, respectively two front wheels and two rear wheels; two front and one rear, or one front wheel and two rear wheels driving; or six-, even up to eight-wheel driving with additional rear wheels. Currently AWD is roughly classified into two systems:
(1) Full Time Driving: the engine power drives both of the front and the rear wheel in full time, and an additional differential damper such as the VW's SYNCRO is each disposed between the power source and the motive power side, as well as the power source and the rear wheel set. The advantages of this pattern include that both of the front and the rear wheel are given driving power and good driving performance while flaws including greater power loss and higher fuel consumption are observed.
(2) Real Time Driving: in this pattern, a controllable clutch subject to mechanical, electromagnetic, or fluid force is disposed between the rear wheel and the power source; when driving warrants, the clutch is closed up through the control by manual or automatic detection to drive the rear wheel, otherwise the front-drive takes over in case of general road conditions to save fuel consumption. However, this pattern, either in manual or automatic control mode, an immediate response is prevented when the road condition warrants since there is a slight delay in the timing for the rear wheel to generate kinetics.
(3) Alternatively, an intermediate differential wheel set is provided between the front and the rear wheel; however, the flaw of this pattern is that either differential output end skids, the other differential output end loses its power. That is, if the front wheel skids, the rear wheel is deprived of its power.
All those three patterns described above share the common flaw that once either wheel set skids, the other wheel set loses its power. If an additional anti-skid damper is mounted, it means more lose of power, accelerated temperature rise to the mechanical parts, and significant drop of power performance to result in:
1. In case of bumpy road condition, the rear wheel are prevented from engaging in asynchronous drive with the front wheels, for example, under circumstances when the rear wheel must run faster than the front wheel do.
2. In case of climbing a slope, or upon starting up under heavy load, controlling the rear wheel to produce power greater than that by the front wheels fails.
Distribution of power for the front and the rear wheel at random is impossible.

Energy storage type of differential hybrid power distribution system


The sampler comprises a vessel assembly for taking, conducting, and storing a fluid sample to be stored at a predeterminable storage temperature as well as a cooling assembly, thermally coupled to the vessel assembly, for cooling the fluid sample. The cooling assembly has a first cooling volume, which encompasses the vessel assembly, and a second cooling volume, which jackets the vessel assembly. To cool the fluid sample, the internal temperature of the vessel assembly is lowered by means of the cooling assembly prior to and/or during the dispensing of the fluid sample, and the fluid is subsequently conducted or held in the vessel assembly.

Fluids of different origins and applications often have to be monitored for their chemobiological condition, which is determined, among other things, by substances being entrained in the fluid. To monitor aqueous fluids, particularly in drinking water treatment or wastewater purification plants, representative fluid samples have to be taken at sampling locations in a spatial and temporal distribution, and examined. The volume of such fluid samples generally ranges between approximately 10 ml and 500 ml.
The samples are commonly taken and dispensed by means of a sampler. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,795,347, 3,880,011, 4,415,011, and 5,587,926, for example, disclose a sampler for dispensing a sample of a fluid withdrawn at a sampling location, said sampler comprising:                a vessel assembly                    with a tubular intake vessel for conducting a moving fluid, and            with a storage vessel for storing the fluid sample.
Samplers of the kind described generally include a suitable pumping device, particularly a pumping device controlled by control electronics, by means of which the fluid is caused to flow into the vessel assembly. In many cases, a vacuum pump or a displacement pump, particularly a peristaltic pump acting mechanically on the intake vessel, is used, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,880,011, 4,077,263, 4,660,607, or 5,587,926.
Furthermore, the vessel assembly of the sampler may include a metering vessel for metering a volume of the fluid sample.
Moreover, the sampler commonly comprises a single cabinet in which the vessel assembly, the pumping device, and electronic units may be mounted.
Because of the entrained substances, particularly because of bacteria, but also because of particular chemical compounds, metabolic processes take place in the fluid, which constantly change the chemobiological condition of the fluid. The change in the chemobiological condition of the fluid per unit time is commonly referred to as the activity of the fluid. The activity is temperature-dependent and increases with increasing fluid temperature and particularly also with an increasing temperature of the fluid sample.
The quality of the monitoring is determined, inter alia, by how closely the chemobiological condition of the fluid sample at the time of examination corresponds with the chemobiological condition of the fluid at the sampling instant. In many cases, however, considerable time elapses between the sampling and the examination of the sample. Therefore, the fluid samples are metered and stored in suitable storage vessels, e.g., in sample bottles.
If the fluid sample is to represent the chemobiological condition existing in the fluid at the sampling instant as precisely as possible, the activity of the fluid sample, averaged over the period between sampling and examination, must be minimized. Therefore, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,926 or in WO-A 90 14 586, for example, the fluid samples are usually cooled to a constant storage temperature of, e.g., 4° C. (=277 K), at which a permissible activity is not exceeded.
To cool the fluid samples, the storage vessels are stored at an appropriate temperature in a cold-storage room, which, as proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,926, for example, may be provided directly in the sampler cabinet, and the fluid samples taken by the sampler are dispensed from the sampling location practically directly into the storage vessels, where they are cooled.
It has turned out, however, that with this method, the cooling rates, particularly at a fluid temperature at the sampling location of above 15° C., may be too low, so that the activity of the fluid sample until the time of examination may be too great. For example, at a fluid temperature of 16° C. and for a volume of the fluid sample of 500 ml, an average cooling rate of 1 K/h, and thus a cooling time until attaimnent of the storage temperature of 12 h, was measured. Because of the excessive activity of the fluid sample, during the dispensing and cooling, the chemobiological condition of the fluid sample may change considerably from the chemobiological condition at the sampling instant.

Sampler and method of dispensing and cooling a fluid


In a display panel, drivers for driving LEDs of pixels are distributed over a substrate, and transceivers relay pixel data from a timing controller to the drivers. The drivers are divided into groups. Respective drivers in a group receive corresponding pixel data addressed thereto solely from one corresponding transceiver. The corresponding transceiver and the respective drivers are daisy-chained to form one first linear daisy chain, where each pair of immediately-adjacent first drivers are connected. Plural first linear daisy chains are formed for all groups. The transceivers are daisy-chained to form a second linear daisy chain by connecting each pair of immediately-adjacent transceivers. The first and second linear daisy chains form a fishbone topology network to enable transmission of pixel data from the timing controller to the drivers while reducing a data-line footprint on the substrate that mounts the pixels, driver and transceivers in comparison to a conventional star-topology network.

In a display panel having an array of LEDs for backlight generation or for direct image generation, it is increasingly challenging to drive the LED array as the panel size increases. Driving the LED array is especially challenging when the display panel has a very large display area, e.g., when the display panel is used as a road-side advertisement board.
If the LED array is realized as a passive matrix, there is a limitation on the number of rows that a single LED driver can serve. The LED driver drives the LEDs row-by-row in a time multiplexing manner. As the number of rows increases, the maximum frame-refresh rate that can be supported decreases. It affects the smoothness in displaying moving pictures and also limits the maximum brightness each LED can provide. Usually, a single driver is limited to drive 200 rows of LEDs in the passive matrix. Realizing the LED array as an active matrix can partially solve the aforementioned issue. The active matrix allows the single LED driver to drive more rows, e.g., 1000 rows. However, as the panel size increases, a greater proportion of driving power from the LED driver is used in driving parasitic resistance and capacitance inherent in source electrodes that connect to LEDs rather than powering the LEDs. Furthermore, the maximum frame-refresh rate is inversely proportional to the number of rows, making it difficult to maintain the smoothness in displaying moving pictures if the LED driver is used to drive a large number of rows.
Due to the limitation on a practical number of rows that a single LED driver can drive, multiple LED drivers distributed over a large display panel are usually used to drive a LED array in the display panel. (In practice, the large display panel is often formed by assembling or cascading a number of smaller display panels together.) Each LED driver is used to drive LEDs in a portion of the LED array, where the LEDs are located close to this LED driver. The LED drivers drive the LEDs according to pixel data received from a TCON. Due to a large area on the display panel, transceivers are usually used to relay the pixel data between the TCON and the drivers. In the art, a star topology, as shown in FIG. 1 of CN206686288U, is usually used to network the TCON, the transceivers and the drivers for delivering the pixel data to respective drivers.
For illustration, FIG. 1 depicts a conventional display panel 100 using a star topology for networking a TCON 180, transceivers 141-146 and various drivers. The display panel 100 has a display area 105. The drivers (e.g., drivers 121-136) are distributed over the display area 105. Each driver is used to drive light-generating pixels (formed with a plurality of LEDs) installed on a portion of the display area 105. For example, a driver 156 is used to drive LEDs (e.g., LED 158) in a portion 160 of the display area 105. Each transceiver is used to relay the pixel data to drivers located over a region of the display area 105. For instance, the transceiver 141 is used to relay the pixel data to drivers 121-136 over the region 111 of the display area 105. In particular, the transceiver 141 and the drivers 121-136 are arranged under a star topology. The transceiver 141 addresses each of the drivers 121-136 independently through a first star-topology arrangement. All the transceivers 141-146 receive the pixel data from the TCON 180. The transceivers 141-146 and the TCON 180 are also arranged under the star topology. The TCON 180 addresses each of the transceivers 141-146 independently through a second star-topology arrangement.
A major disadvantage of using the star topology in networking the TCON, transceivers and drivers is that a lot of data lines are required to be installed in forming a star-topology network. It leads to a high data-line footprint on a substrate on which the pixels, transceivers and drivers are mounted. As one consequence of the high data-line footprint, the substrate is usually realized by a multi-layer PCB. Another consequence of the high data-line footprint is that usually, the front side of the display panel is populated with LEDs, source lines and scan lines while the back side thereof is populated with drivers, transceivers, power lines and data lines. Both consequences lead to a high cost in manufacturing the display panel.
There is a need in the art for a display panel having a distributed driver network with a low data-line footprint.

Display panel with distributed driver network


The present invention relates to a use of casein derived from milks, preferably human milk, and porcine milk, for the preparation of a substrate for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of infections of the respiratory tract caused by S. pneumoniae and/or H. influenzae, as well as the diagnostic use of such compositions for diagnosing infections caused by said bacteria.

Glycoconjugates interact specifically with microbial lectins, e.g. viral envelope proteins, bacterial adhesins and toxins (20). The specificity is provided by saccharide sequences, e.g. the GM1 ganglioside recognized by cholera toxin (9, 10) Gal 1.fwdarw.4Gal by uropathogenic E. coli (14, 16), or GlcNAc 1.fwdarw.3Gal by Streptococcus pneumoniae (2). When membrane bound, the glycoconjugates act as receptors, and the interaction with e.g. bacteria results in the attachment thereof to the receptor-bearing cell (17). When secreted these oligosaccharide sequences have other functions. For example, the presence in external secretions of oligosaccharide sequences corresponding to the cell-bound receptors provides the basis for competitive inhibition of microbial binding (3). Since attachment to epithelial cells is an important event in the pathogenesis of many bacterial infections, inhibition of attachment by secreted oligosaccharides may protect against infection (EP-A1-0 126 043).
Human milk is a rich source of free oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates (12, 13). Human milk inhibits the attachment both of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae to nasopharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro (3). Inhibitors for pneumococcal binding were identified in the free oligosaccharide fraction, as expected from its content of lacto and neolactotetraose with known receptor activity for pneumococci (3).
Additional components of a molecular weight of >5000 daltons but not of immunoglobulin nature were also found to interact with both S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae (3). The present invention describes the identification of these non-immunoglobulin components in the high molecular weight fraction of human milk as caseins.


An in-vehicle system and method for selecting and displaying on a roadmap upcoming waypoints and associated information, including an estimated time to arrival at the waypoints. In an embodiment, driving history is stored and analyzed, including routes taken and previous destinations, and used to determine and display personalized waypoints.

The present disclosure relates to a system, components, and methodologies for displaying the estimated time to arrival at one or more upcoming waypoints while traveling in a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a system, components, and methodologies that enable in-vehicle dynamic display of upcoming waypoints based on the vehicle's location and direction of travel on a road being traversed, known general points of interest ahead, and dynamically acquired previously visited locations ahead.
Current navigation systems provide real-time traffic incident information to the driver regarding driving conditions ahead, such as average roadway speeds, accidents, road construction, road closures, and the like. Such information may give the driver a better sense of what to expect for their current trip. One particular aspect of this is the Estimated Time to Arrival (ETA) at one or more waypoints along a route being travelled. In the prior art, ETA information is available only to a destination specifically identified by a driver, and only when the vehicle's route guidance system is active. But when no destination is identified, and/or if the navigation system is not active for route guidance, a driver cannot easily obtain a sense of the driving time or distance to upcoming landmarks, previously visited destinations, and/or other waypoints.
In conventional prior art navigation systems, the vehicle's position and direction of travel may be determined, for example, by a global positioning system (GPS) terminal or the like. However, if no destination has been entered, no ETA or distance information is shown. Instead, the driver must estimate the vehicle's position in relation to known landmarks, and estimate the time to arrival to known points of interest ahead using whatever speed and upcoming traffic incident information may be available. For example, the distance to a known point of interest may be estimated from the displayed roadmap, speed may be obtained from a speedometer, and traffic conditions may be obtained from a local broadcast radio station traffic report, or as may be provided by the navigation system.
In conventional navigation systems, a driver may also encounter an occasional roadway dynamic message sign, which may provide estimated travel times to one or more upcoming waypoints. However, such message signs are not constantly available to enhance a driver's awareness of upcoming waypoints. Moreover, such message signs do not vary the selection of information displayed based on any particular driver.
It would be helpful to present to a driver information similar to that displayed on such roadway signs, by which a driver could obtain ETA information to upcoming landmarks or other waypoints, without having to input a particular destination into a route guidance system, and without a route guidance system even being active. It would also be helpful if the ETA to easily identifiable upcoming waypoints could be conveyed to the driver in a manner that does not distract the driver's attention from the road ahead, for example when travelling in unfamiliar territory. It would also be helpful if personalized information pertaining to previously visited or identified waypoints and/or destinations could be saved, and to present the ETA to such locations on subsequent travels as waypoints. Further, it would be helpful to update such information and its presentation in real-time, based on the current driving situation.

Display of estimated time to arrival at upcoming personalized route waypoints


The use of a) an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor such as Captopril or Enalapril, b) an angiotensin II-receptor antagonist such as Saralasin or Losartan, or c) a renin inhibitor, such as Remikiren or [N-(pyridyl-3-propionyl)-phenylalanyl-histidyl-(3S,4S) ACHPA-isoleucylamino]-2-methyl-2-dihydroxy-1,3-propane, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of uterine fibroids is disclosed. The ACE inhibitor may be used concomitantly or sequentially with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist such as Buserelin or Goserelin.

This invention relates to uterine fibroid treatment.
Cellular proliferation and differentiation in uterine tissue is considered to be regulated by ovarian steroids as fibroids appear in the reproductive years and regress after the menopause. Uterine fibroids are most commonly treated by surgery, usually by full or partial hysterectomy, although removal of individual fibroids (myomectomy) is also undertaken at rather greater risk on women who have not completed child bearing. As far as medical treatment is concerned, agonist analogues of LHRH (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone) such as Buserilin (GnRH analogue) have been employed to suppress oestrogen-progesterone as fibroids are ovarian steroid dependent. Such medical treatments, however, suffer from a variety of side effects such as predisposition to osteopetrosis and are not recommended for long term use.


In a method for depositing a barrier coating, a device is provided comprising a first portion and a second portion where a surface of the second portion is in a shadow zone. The device is pretreated wherein the pretreating alters a deposition rate of the barrier coating on a surface exposed to the pretreating. The shadow zone is substantially unexposed to the pretreating. A barrier coating is deposited wherein the barrier coating substantially conforms to a profile of the device. The coating may be a graded-composition barrier coating wherein a composition of the coating varies substantially continuously across a thickness thereof. The first portion may include a flexible, substantially transparent substrate. The second portion may include an electronic device. The barrier coating and first portion may encapsulate the second portion. The method is a single, commercially advantageous, barrier deposition process, enabling increased product throughput and low process tact time.

The present disclosure is directed generally towards thin film composite barrier coatings having improved resistance to diffusion of chemical species and to devices incorporating such composite thin film coatings. In particular, the present disclosure relates to electronic devices, such as organic light emitting diodes ("OLEDs"), that incorporate such composite thin film coatings and have improved stability in the environment.
As is well known in the art, electronic devices, and display technologies such as OLEDs, require ultra high barrier protection against oxygen, moisture and other gases. Conventional electronic devices are built on glass or metal substrates because of the low permeability of glass or metal to oxygen and water vapor. High permeability of these and other reactive species can lead to corrosion or other degradation of the devices. However, glass and metal substrates are not suitable for certain applications in which flexibility is desired. In addition, manufacturing processes involving large glass and metal substrates are inherently slow and, therefore, result in high manufacturing cost.
Flexible plastic substrates have been used to build electronic devices. However, these substrates are not impervious to oxygen and water vapor, and, thus, are not suitable per se for the manufacture of long-lasting electronic devices. In order to improve the resistance of these substrates to oxygen and water vapor, alternating layers of polymeric and ceramic materials have been applied to a surface of a substrate. It has been suggested that in such multilayer barriers, a polymeric layer acts to mask any defects in an adjacent ceramic layer to reduce the permeation rates of oxygen and/or water-vapor through the channels made possible by the defects in the ceramic layer. However, an interface between a polymeric layer and a ceramic layer is generally weak due to the incompatibility of the adjacent materials, and the layers, thus, are prone to be delaminated.
Graded-composition barrier coatings disposed on the surfaces of electronic devices and substrates such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,015,640, have been used to reduce permeation rates of chemical species therethrough. These barrier coatings comprise a material the composition of which varies substantially continuously across a thickness thereof. The graded composition barrier coating provides reduced permeation rates for water vapor and oxygen as well as other chemical species and may be suitable for many applications, such as devices in which flexibility is desired. During deposition, varying the relative supply rates or changing the identities of reacting species results in a coating that has a graded composition of reaction or recombination products of the reacting species across its thickness. The graded composition barrier coating does not have distinct interfaces at which the composition changes abruptly, rather it has a substantially continuous transition of materials.
However, many organic electronic devices, both rigid and flexible, have severe surface topology where surface features can significantly exceed the thickness of the thin film barrier coating deposited using a method known in the art. For example, passive matrix displays may possess geometry, or severe surface features, usually microns high, that make it difficult for the barrier coating to completely and hermetically cover the surface features over large areas. This geometry may create a "shadow zone." Furthermore, the presence of contamination particles on any desired coating surface may create a shadow zone or prevent deposition of an effective diffusion barrier coating through traditional prior art methods or a baseline method that is optimized for a substantially planar device.
As a result, there is a continued need for robust films that have reduced permeation rates of environmentally reactive materials. It is also desirable to provide such films to produce flexible electronic devices that are robust against degradation due to environmental elements.
This problem has previously been addressed in a combination of separate processes. In a method known in the art, a substantially thick smoothing or planarizing layer is deposited on the device, using a wet coating technique such as spincoating, dipcoating, spraycoating, etc. Subsequently, a separate barrier coating deposition process, such as plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), is used to deposit a barrier coating on the device. The combination of the primary barrier coating process with a second wet or dry coating process is expensive, decreases product throughput and increases process tact time.
Therefore, there is a need for a novel barrier coating configuration that enables the continuous and effective coverage over such severe surface topology, in a single barrier deposition process, thereby protecting the device from degradation due to the ingress of harmful permeants while simultaneously providing a commercially advantageous, low tact time encapsulation process. Such a barrier coating will substantially conform to a profile of the device. "Substantially conforming," "substantially conformal," or "substantially conforms" are terms that will be used interchangeably hereinafter and mean that a thickness of a property is approximately equivalent about the area or along the surface being described as possessing this property.
Accordingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an improvement of a baseline method of depositing a coating on a device having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion is in a shadow zone and where the coating is deposited using a first predetermined set of process parameters having a first ratio of a thickness of the coating on the second portion to a thickness of the coating on the first portion. In the improved method of an embodiment of the disclosure, the coating is deposited on the device using a second set of predetermined process parameters such that the coating substantially conforms to a profile of the device and a second ratio of a thickness of the coating on the second portion to a thickness of the coating on the first portion is greater than the first ratio using the baseline method.
An additional embodiment includes an improvement of a baseline method of depositing a barrier coating on a device having a first portion and a second portion, where a surface of the second portion is in a shadow zone and where the barrier coating comprises a substantially continuous transition from a substantially inorganic zone deposited at a first thickness to a substantially organic zone deposited at a second thickness and a buffer layer deposited using a reactive ion etching PECVD deposition mode ("RIE mode"), resulting in a first water ingress rate. "RIE mode," as used herein, refers to a PECVD deposition configuration where a substrate, for example, is placed on the powered electrode. A plasma enhanced mode ("PE mode"), as used herein, refers to a configuration where a substrate, for example, is placed on the ground electrode. The improvement of the baseline method includes depositing the substantially inorganic zone at a third thickness and depositing the substantially organic zone at a fourth thickness wherein the third thickness is greater than the first thickness and the fourth thickness is greater than the second thickness, and depositing the buffer layer in PE mode, resulting in a second water ingress rate wherein the second water ingress rate is less than the first water ingress rate.
Another embodiment of the present subject matter describes a method for depositing a barrier coating where the method provides a device having a surface with a first surface portion and a second surface portion where a surface of the second surface portion is in a shadow zone, where the device is pretreated such that the deposition rate of a barrier coating on the first surface portion is altered and where the shadow zone is substantially unexposed to the pretreating, and where the barrier coating is deposited on the first and second surface portions, substantially conforming to a profile of the device.
A further embodiment includes a method for depositing a barrier coating where an apparatus is provided having a substrate and an electronic device, where a surface of the electronic device is in a shadow zone, where the apparatus is pretreated such that a deposition rate is altered on a surface exposed to the pretreating and where the shadow zone is substantially unexposed to the pretreating, and where a graded-composition barrier coating, having an organic and inorganic material composition that varies substantially continuously across a thickness thereof, is deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition such that the barrier coating substantially conforms to a profile of the apparatus.
Yet another embodiment of the present subject matter provides an apparatus having a substrate, an electronic device attached to the substrate where a surface of the electronic device is in a shadow zone and the surface has a deposition rate of a barrier coating different than a deposition rate of the barrier coating on a surface outside of the shadow zone, and a graded-composition barrier coating substantially conforming to a profile of the apparatus where the coating comprises an organic and an inorganic material, the composition of which varies substantially continuously across a thickness thereof.
These embodiments and many other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the embodiments.

System and method for applying a conformal barrier coating with pretreating


An improved delivery valve for a plunger type fuel distribution pump characterized by ease of manufacture, lightness, and enhance performance in achieving both a check valve function and a retraction volume function. Specifically, previous machined constructions utilized a conically configured check valve and machined grooves which in the improved design are replaced by a commercially available high-precision, smoothly finished steel bearing ball element and by lightweight, tubular stem design.

This invention concerns fuel injection for a vehicle engine particularly a pump-line-nozzle type system and pump which are commonly used with diesel engines. Such a pump commonly utilizes a delivery valve having a backflow prevention valve element and a pressure relief element for the fuel line leading to the fuel injector. In a preferred embodiment, the delivery valve device is positioned downstream of the pump's internal pumping components and upstream of each outlet leading to the high-pressure lines which are connected to individual fuel injectors for each cylinder of the engine. Each of the high-pressure lines supplies pressurized fuel to a fuel injector associated with a cylinder and combustion chamber. In response to an increase in fuel pressure to a set pressure level, the fuel injector is opened for spraying fuel into an associated combustion chamber. Correspondingly, when the pressure level decreases to a certain level, the fuel injector closes.
Typically in such systems, a provision is made to prevent backflow of fuel from the lines to the pump. Also, provision is made to slightly relieve fuel pressure in the line by a "delivery" valve so as to prevent "dribble" injection through the injector. The delivery valve defines a "retraction volume" to slightly relieve the line pressure. Thus, the delivery valve has two important functions: first, it prevents fuel backflow via a check valve or the like; and second, it provides a pressure reducing function for fuel upstream of the fuel injector by means of providing a "retraction volume" mechanism located upstream of the pumping elements. Backflow prevention is important because it desirably traps pressurized fuel in a high-pressure line leading to the fuel injector so the line never empties but yet retains a pressure level high enough to prevent the hot fuel from boiling in it. The line pressure reduction quickly reduces fuel pressure upstream of the fuel injector at the close of the injection cycle to prevent dribble of fuel from passing the injector and entering the combustion chamber.
The backflow prevention function is important to conserve system energy by maintaining a relatively high fuel pressure in the fuel lines downstream of the fuel injector prior to an injection cycle for a particular cylinder. Accordingly, when the injection cycle is initiated at the next injection cycle, the fuel pressure need only be slightly increased to a level exceeding the injector's set opening characteristic. Naturally, the backflow prevention traps pressurized fuel in the line leading to the injector and conserves energy for the next injection cycle but also increases the responsiveness of the injection system and allows use of a smaller capacity fuel pump. Another advantage is the elimination of creation of a low pressure or vacuum conditions in the fuel line which can result from an instantaneous reversal of the fuel flow. In addition, line-cavitation is prevented which tends to harm a fuel line by internal erosion creating debris arising from the erosion. This debris can damage the fuel injector's nozzle tip which has very small and high-precision clearances therein.
The delivery valve's second pressure relief function for the high pressure fuel line is important to more precisely control both the quantity and the timing of fuel injection to a combustion chamber. While it was previously noted that maintenance of fuel pressure in the line is desirable, the pressure level maintained in the line should be at a level insufficient to cause any significant fuel flow past the injector's valve. Specifically, at the end of a designated injection period, the fuel's pressure level in the high-pressure line can be above the designed opening pressure level of the fuel injector. This pressure level can undesirably allow a small quantity of fuel to flow past the injector and into the combustion chamber. The undesirable additional injection of fuel may continue until the pressure level falls below the closing characteristic or criteria of the particular fuel injector. This condition, known as after-injection, post-injection, or "dribble", introduces a quantity of fuel in excess of the ideal quantity and also the dribble flow occurs at a continuously-decreasing pressure usually resulting in very poor fuel atomization. The usual result is a formation of relatively large fuel droplets that do not have any appreciable energy and enter the cylinder or combustion chamber late in the engine's combustion cycle. The large droplets do not atomize and evaporate completely and the fuel is not efficient in associating and combining with oxygen. Typically, the fuel droplets barely pyrolyze and all too often exit the combustion chamber as smoke. Accordingly, this condition produces high soot emissions and limit the power potential of the engine.
The above mentioned pressure relief function of the delivery valve enhances fuel injector performance for precisely cutting-off injection of fuel at the desired time of the engine's cycle. This prevention of post-injection is achieved by artificially creating additional volume communicated to the line to slightly lower line pressure at a precise time that the injection cycle is supposed to cease. This additional line volume is called a "retraction volume". Pressurized fuel is allowed to expand into the retraction volume to relieve line fuel pressure to a level below that of the closing characteristic of the injector. In this fashion, after-injections are precluded and precise cut-off of injection at the nozzle are achieved which results in clean exhaust with an absence of smoke or soot. This not only reduces emissions, but, by cleaning the exhaust of visible smoke, permits more powerful operation of the engine so as to handle greater loads. Consequently, the mechanical efficiency of the engine is increased and the specific fuel consumption is decreased.
As with any liquid fuel system, it is necessary to keep fuel in a liquid state rather than a vapor state in order to maintain the hydraulic integrity of the system. Thus, in all cases, the "retraction volume" of the delivery mechanism is carefully designed and controlled to maintain line pressure at a high enough level to prevent fuel within the line from boiling due to the high-temperature environment surrounding the fuel system; and/or from getting into a vacuum condition, and cavitating caused by dynamic pressure spikes within the system.
The previously discussed delivery valve is used with and is a part of an injector pump of a known plunger-and-barrel type. Typically, such a pump receives periodic mechanical engine timed inputs through a camshaft and tappets. In such a pump, the basic elements of the pump assembly are typically disposed vertically and extend upward from the engine camshaft and tappets in the following order: plungers which are axially movable in a stationary barrel assembly which are activated by the camshaft and tappets; the delivery valve assembly; and outlets and high pressure lines leading to fuel injectors, one located at each of the engine's cylinders and combustion chambers. Activation of the plungers by the camshaft and tappets moves the plunger upward which pressurizes and pumps fuel. The fuel flows past the delivery valve before passing through an outlet fitting and into a high-pressure line. The fuel flows to a fuel injector which is opened in response to a fuel pressure level above a set opening pressure level characteristic for the injector.
Typically, a delivery valve has two basic parts: a housing with a cylinder bore formed therein; and a small movable member also called the stem member reciprocal in the housing. The stem's outside dimension or surface is closely fitted in the cylinder bore and is moveable therein in response to the pressure of fuel and a force exerted by a spring. The stem's outside surface is typically fluted which provides a close tolerance but low-friction sliding relationship with the cylindrical bore. The flutes also allow fuel to pass between the end portions of the stem as well as acting as guides while minimizing contact between the stem and the housing. A retraction volume mechanism is located at an upper end portion of the stem and a check-valve is located at either end portions of the stem. Specifically, the retraction volume chamber or cavity is formed between the stem and the housing by creation of a retraction-volume land, or control-surface on the stem and forming an adjacent groove in the stem. In an axial direction of the stem, the retraction-volume land typically has a small height dimension, typically only about 1 mm.
In a typical construction using a top-end type check valve, the stem has a conically shaped neck formed just downstream (above)the retraction volume land portion. The neck portion has a larger diameter than the end of the adjacent cylinder bore in the housing and the upper edge of the cylinder bore serves as a seat for the conically shaped portion. The seating relationship closes the delivery valve to prevent a backflow of fuel to the pump interior during the non-injection or dwell period for that particular cylinder. The closing of the delivery valve by engagement of the conically shaped portion and the seat is aided by operation of gravity on the stem portion as well as a downward force produced by a light return spring.
In operation of the pump, the pumping chamber located above the plunger is first filled with fuel allowed by positioning of the top edge portion of the plunger below the lower edge of the fuel feed-hole or inlet. Then upward movement of the plunger by the input from the engine's cam and tappet moves the top edge past the inlet to block flow out of the pumping chamber. Increased pressure of fuel in the pumping chamber lifts the stem and its check valve from a seat against the biasing force of the stem re turn spring. With additional plunger movement, fuel trapped in the pumping chamber passes to the lower part of the delivery valve through the fluted configuration but cannot yet pass into the line to the fuel injector until the lower control edge of the retraction-volume land clears the top edge of the delivery valve housing. Then fuel is passed into the line to the fuel injector until the lower helical control curface of the stem registers with and passes the lower edge of the fuel feed-hole or inlet at which time pressurized fuel is relieved into the inlet. At this point, pumping action ceases as the pressure in the pumping chamber, attaining a maximum of 20,000 psi in some cases, instantly drops to the fuel inlet pressure which is typically about 35-50 psi.
When the above described spilling of pressure back into the inlet feed-hole occurs, the fuel pressure in the line would remain high and continue to flow through the injector nozzle which is set to open at a pressure of 1500-3500 psi. This flow would continue until the line pressure was reduced to below the injector opening pressure. A certain volume of fuel must be accomodated to relieve this high line pressure so that the fuel injection through the nozzle stops when the pump pressurization ceases. The volume to be relived is a function of the line pressure, the length of the line, the internal and external diameter of the line, and the spring chamber volume at the bottom of the oulet fitting. For a typical large truck engine, this volume could be about 70-80 cubic mm. For a smaller four cylinder automobile engine, the volume could be about 30-35 cubic mm.
The retraction volume of the delivery valve provides a space or volume for receiving the necessary quantity of fuel to relieve the high line pressure to prevent flow after the end of the pumping cycle. This pressure relief prevents formation of smoke and soot caused by injection of excess fuel late in the combustion process. The retraction volume is created as the delivery valve stem moves downward and its lower control edge formed by the retraction-volume land passes by the upper edge of the delivery valve housing. The continues to form as the stem continues its downward movement until the conically shaped check valve seats in a closed position. Thus, a space is created by downward displacement of the retraction-volume land past the upper control edge of the delivery valve housing. This fuel "retracted" is not lost back to the pump but remains in the delivery system ready to be part of the fuel pressurized and pumped in the next injection cycle. In this way, it is possible to affect a sharp and clean cut-off of fuel injected at the nozzle without additional "dribble" of excess fuel and while still maintaining a certain residual level of fuel pressure in the line. The residual pressure is set to be high enough to avoid line cavitation and/or boiling (evaporation) of fuel. Also, the residual pressure is set to be sufficiently low enough so that natural pressure spikes that occur under dynamic pressure conditions do not reach a level sufficiant to instantaneously crack the injector nozzle open.
In practice, it is desirable to minimize the line volume as well as the volume in the delivery valve's return spring cavity as this reduces the necessary sizing requirement for the retraction volume as much as possible. Reducing the necessary retraction volume resultantly reduces travel requirements of the retraction-volume land. All of the above help to: increase the responsiveness; decrease the closing impact characteristics. overall, this increases the sealing integrity and the durability of the system.
In the second popular valve design, the conical check valve is positioned at the bottom of the stem and the retraction-volume land at the top portion of the stem. This permits a hollow central portion of the stem for receiving a large portion of the stem return spring. This allows a shorter spring retaining volume at its upper end portion which allows the vertical dimension of the assembly to be shortened. This promotes a lighter valve design which requires less material and less machining resulting in a more compact, lower weight pump assembly.
The movement of the pump's plunger is produced by input from a lobe of a camshaft. Specifically, a tappet is acted upon by the cam lobe to first cause upward movement of the plunger. This movement first causes a closing of an inlet feed-hole formed in the pump barrel. This feed hole is in fluid communication with the discharge portion of the fuel supply system. Thereafter, further upward movement of the plunger pressurizes fuel. The pressure of the fuel lifts the conical check valve off its seat against the force of the return spring and gravity. With additional upward movement of the plunger, fuel in the pumping chamber is displaced through the lower fluted part of the delivery valve but cannot pass into the discharge line until the stem is moved so that the lower control edge of the retraction-volume land clears the top edge of the delivery-valve housing. Depending on the diameter of the retraction-volume land, and the amount and pressure of the fuel being pumped, the lower control edge of the retraction-volume land is moved past the upper control-edge of the delivery-valve housing by a finite distance. The stem remains in this delivery position during the injection period until the period ends as the plunger "spills" (discharged). Fuel is "spilled" as a lower helical control surface of the plunger registers with, and then surpasses, the lower edge of the feed hole in the barrel.
Also, in the second design, the flutes are replaced by flats machined on the sides of the stem. In the second prior art embodiment, the smaller conical section at the lower portion is smaller and this saves considerable machining and material, thus reducing cost. Since different sections consume axial space of the stem, valves with many changes in machined sections, such as the first example, are axially longer than otherwise which forces the valve housing also to be longer-than-needed. This in turn also requires a longer (taller) pump housing and results in a heavier, taller, costlier pump.
What is needed is a lower, lighter, smaller valve design which requires less material and machining, and results in a lower-cost, shorter (in height), lighter pump, which also allows more installation flexibility and a better line-layout.