An adjustable doorstop is disclosed that mounts on a hinge pin that is inserted into mating hinge leafs. The doorstop has two members that are manually positioned with respect to each other and lock to set how far the door to which they are mounted can open. The doorstop members each have a means that contact only a hinge leaf of a door hinge to prevent a door from opening beyond its manually predetermined point.

This invention relates to the field of doorstop devices. More particularly, this invention relates to doorstops of the type that are mounted on the hinge pin of a door and prevent the door from being opened beyond a manually preset point to prevent the door from hitting an adjacent wall when it is opened. Even more particularly this invention relates to an adjustable hinge pin mounted doorstop.
Hinged doors must frequently be limited in their movement to prevent them banging walls and furniture. The prior art teaches a variety of solutions, both simple and complex, to limit the distance a door may be permitted to travel to prevent it from hitting walls and furniture and causing damage thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,724 teaches and claims a hinge pin swing doorstop comprised of a hinge pin replacement shaft that replaces the hinge pin in a hinge associated with a hinged object whose hinged rotation is to be limited. The top of the hinge pin replacement shaft extends beyond the hinge and is bent at a right angle with respect to the replacement shaft and is formed into a Vee shape with the Vee lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the hinge pin portion in the hinge. The end of the Vee shaped portion furthest from the hinge pin replacement shaft is threaded and has an internally threaded, length extending ferrule and a locking nut co-linearly screwed thereon. The outer end of the ferrule has a shock absorbing bumper mounted thereon. By loosening the locking nut and turning the length extending ferrule the length of the outer end of the Vee shaped portion can be lengthened or shortened to adjust how far a door on which the hinge pin swing doorstop taught in this patent can be opened before the shock absorbing bumper contacts the doorframe and prevents the door on which it is mounted from opening further.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,941 teaches and claims an adjustable hinge pin mounted doorstop consisting of an arm that has an inner end with a hole through which an existing hinge pin is inserted, and the outer end of the arm terminates in a threaded opening. A door hinge pin is removed, inserted through the inner end hole, and back into the hinge leaf holes to hold the hinge leaves together. A threaded post is received in the threaded opening on the outer end of the arm, and the threaded post has a padded, shocking absorbing bumper thereon that contacts the doorframe and prevents the door from opening beyond a certain point. How far the door can open before the bumper contacts the doorframe is set by how far the threaded post is turned through the threaded opening through the outer end of the arm.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,527,303 and 4,858,273 both teach and claim a hinge pin mounted doorstop having multiple mounting holes that are used to adjust how far a door may be opened. A door hinge pin is removed, inserted through one of the multiple mounting holes and back into the hinge leaf holes holding two hinge leaves together in a movable manner as is known in the art. These doorstops each have two shock absorbing bumpers and as the door on which the doorstop is hinge pin mounted is opened to its furthest position, as determined by the doorstop, one of the two bumpers contacts the door and the other of the two bumpers contacts the doorframe. How far the door can be opened before the bumpers contact the door and the doorframe is set by the one of the multiple mounting holes through which the hinge pin is inserted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,289 teaches and claims a hinge mounted adjustable doorstop, but the entire hinge must be replaced, or an existing hinge must be removed and modified. Thus, this adjustable doorstop is more impractical than others taught in the prior art.
The problem with all these prior art hinge pin mounted adjustable doorstops is that they must all contact the wood of the door and the doorframe. If the door is not opened carefully, the relatively small rubber bumpers of the prior art adjustable doorstops place a lot of force on the wood. Depressions are caused in the wood and eventually the rubber bumpers break and exposed metal ends more seriously damage the wood of the door and the doorframe. These prior art doorstops also have another shortcoming. They all have a very limited range of adjustability. That is, the angle of adjustment for stopping the travel of a door is limited.
Thus, there is a need in the prior art for a relatively simple, hinge pin mounted, adjustable doorstop that has no rubber pieces that can wear out and eventually break, that does not contact the wood of a door or doorframe and thereby mar or damage the wood, and that has a wide adjustment range.
The foregoing need in the prior art for a simple, hinge pin mounted, adjustable doorstop that does not contact the wood of a door or doorframe, and that does not have rubber pieces that can wear out, is satisfied by the present invention.
The present invention is a small, all metal, adjustable doorstop that easily and quickly mounts on the existing hinge pin of a door hinge and only contacts the metal leaves of the door hinge on which the doorstop is mounted to limit the travel of the door on opening. In addition, the present invention permits providing control of how far a door can be opened that is in the order of ninety (90) percent of the normal travel of the door.


Provided is a plasma generating device. The plasma generating device includes: an RF power supply providing an RF signal; a plasma chamber providing a space where gas is injected to generate plasma; a first electromagnetic inducer installed at one portion of the plasma chamber and inducing an electromagnetic field in the plasma chamber as the RF signal is applied; a second electromagnetic inducer installed at another portion of the plasma chamber and inducing an electromagnetic field in the plasma chamber as the RF signal is applied; a first load connected to the first electromagnetic inducer; a second load connected to the second electromagnetic inducer; and a controller controlling a power supplied to the first electromagnetic inducer and the second electromagnetic inducer by adjusting at least one impedance of the first load and the second load.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to a plasma generating device, a method of controlling the same, and a substrate processing device including the plasma generating device.
Processes for fabricating a semiconductor, a display, and a solar cell include a process for processing a substrate using plasma. For example, a etching device used for dry etch or an ashing device used for ashing during semiconductor fabricating processes includes a chamber for generating plasma and a substrate may be etched or ashed by using plasma generated by the chamber.
A typical plasma chamber includes a wound coil at a side and induces an electromagnetic field therein by flowing a time-varying current to the coil, thereby generating plasma. However, such a plasma chamber has a high density of plasma occurring at the center and a low density of plasma occurring at the edge.
That is, plasma is generated non-uniformly throughout a chamber space in a typical plasma chamber. As a result, plasma processing results are different at the center and edge of a substrate. The yield of a substrate processing process is deteriorated.

Plasma generating device, method of controlling the same, and substrate processing device including the plasma generating device


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes write/verify circuits, a switching elements which divides the bit lines into plural portions, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the write/verify circuits and switching elements. The control circuit performs a control operation to perform the write and verify operations with the switching elements set in an OFF state when a memory cell of an address to be written lies on the write/verify circuit side in the memory cell array, write and save data into a memory cell lying on the write/verify circuit side with the switching elements set in the OFF state when the memory cell lies farther apart from the write/verify circuit than the switching elements, and then turn ON the switching elements while the write/verify circuit is not being operated and write the saved data into a memory cell of an address to be written.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrically rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a write/verify method thereof. More specifically, for example, this invention relates to the technique for enhancing the write/verify speed in a flash memory having large memory capacity or a system using the flash memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
The number of memory cells connected to a bit-line is increased with an increase in the memory capacity of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and the pitch of the bit lines is narrowed with a reduction in the chip size. Therefore, the capacitance associated with the bit line and the capacitance between the bit lines are steadily increased. The charging/discharging time of the bit line is increased by an increase in the load capacitance of the bit line and time for writing data into a memory cell becomes long. As a result, in a system using the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, for example, in a system such as a digital camera having a NAND flash memory into which a large amount of data is written, write time will become long.
Further, in the general nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, since it is necessary to verify whether or not data is written to a sufficient extent after the data write operation, longer time is required. The operation of writing data into the NAND flash memory is performed by applying high voltage to the control gate of a cell transistor acting as a memory cell to change (shift) the threshold voltage of the cell transistor. After this, the verify operation is performed to monitor the shifting amount of the threshold voltage of the cell transistor and determine whether or not the shifting amount of the threshold voltage of the cell transistor is sufficiently large. At this time, if the write characteristic of the cell transistor varies, it becomes necessary to increase the number of write and verify operations and it becomes necessary to take further long time to perform the write/verify operation (for example, refer to Jpn. Pat. Appn. KOKAI Publication No. H08-087895).
Recently, a chance of dealing with large capacity data such as moving data, image data of high quality and the like occurs many times and it is desired to enhance the write/verify speed in a flash memory and a system using the flash memory.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and write/verify method thereof


A computer-implemented process takes content created collaboratively from a workgroup environment and converts it into a scheduled web page that is publishable on the Internet. The computer-implemented process loosely relates the generated collaboration content and the published web page such that each may be independently modified and have independent life cycles, but still reflect changes to the collaboration content on the published web page.

Content management is an increasing concern for web site developers and other publishers of information to the Internet. As the content management market matures, there is a growing realization that content is seldom created specifically for web publishing. Often there is a wealth of information that is left untapped because the current form of the information does not lend it to publication.
For example, certain types of content are created through collaboration and are initially targeted to a specific work group. This content then grows over time through further collaboration between work group members. This content is generally made for a specific intranet audience composed of the users involved in the collaboration. However, this library of effort and information may eventually be of interest to other groups or the public at large. Accordingly, the content may eventually be pushed to a web site. Pushing the content to the Web site may require substantial effort on the part of the content manager. The content manager would be required to add the appropriate publishing information and possibly rewrite the information into a format that takes advantage of certain publishing functions. A solution is needed that allows the collaboration information to be efficiently published without required so much interaction on the part of the content manager.

System and method for publishing collaboration items to a web site


The hydrodynamic effects—which occur during immersion lithography as a result of the movement of the semiconductor wafer—in a liquid preferably provided between the last lens surface of the projection system and the semiconductor wafer can be avoided by means of a movable illumination region for illuminating a cutout of a mask containing a structure to that can be imaged onto the semiconductor wafer. A scan movement of the mask and the semiconductor wafer can be either reduced or entirely avoided by means of a movement of the illumination region.

Development in the fabrication of microelectronic components tends toward an increasing integration density. In the case of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) memory chips, for example, it is prefarable to obtain an increase in storage capacity with the size of the memory chip remaining the same. Accordingly, it is desirable to increase miniaturization of structures that are to be formed in a semiconductor wafer.
A process step in the fabrication of micrometer-and nanometer-scale structures is a lithographic imaging of the structure from a mask onto the semiconductor wafer.
FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates an conventional apparatus for lithographic imaging in the fabrication of DRAM memory chips. A slotted illumination region 1 is provided above the mask 2, which is arranged in one plane and contains the structure to be imaged. The illumination region may, for example, have a length of 104 mm and a width of 8 mm and the rectangular mask 2 may have a length of 104 mm and a width of 132 mm. By means of the illumination region 1, a strip-type cutout on the mask 2 is illuminated and a partial structure contained in the cutout is imaged onto the semiconductor wafer 3 by means of a projection system 5, which generally de-magnifies the partial structure, by a factor of 0.25, for example. In order to illuminate, successively, the entire mask 2 and to image the structure contained in mask 2, mask 2 is moved beneath the illumination region 1 in the direction illustrated by an arrow in FIG. 2a. A movement of the semiconductor wafer 3 is coupled with the movement of mask 2. In order that the entire structure contained in mask 2 is imaged onto the semiconductor wafer 3, the semiconductor wafer 3 is moved in an opposite direction to mask 2. The opposite direction results from the interchange of right and left caused by the projection system 5. Depending on the demagnification factor of the projection system 5, the speed of the mask will be greater than that of the semiconductor wafer 3. Given a demagnification factor of 0.25, the speed at which mask 2 moves is four times greater than that of the semiconductor wafer 3.
FIG. 2a illustrates the positions of mask 2 and the semiconductor wafer 3 at the beginning of an imaging of the structure contained in mask 2. Situated above mask 2 is the illumination region 1, which is arranged above an optical axis of the projection system 5, said optical axis being indicated by the dashed line, and does not alter its position during the imaging. The mask 2 is moved in the direction indicated by the black arrow at shown in FIG. 2a during the imaging operation. At the same time, the semiconductor wafer 3 is moved in the opposite direction to the mask 2 as indicated by the black arrow at the semiconductor wafer 3. FIG. 2b illustrates the positions of mask 2 and semiconductor wafer 3 at the end of the imaging. As is evident, mask 2 has migrated from one side of the optical axis to the other side of the optical axis, while the semiconductor wafer 3 has migrated in the opposite direction. There is an air gap situated between semiconductor wafer 3 and lens surface 7.
By means of the described movement of mask and semiconductor wafer, the structure contained in the mask is scanned and progressively imaged onto the semiconductor wafer. The mask generally contains structures for one or a plurality of microelectronic components, such as memory chips for example. In the manner described above, the structure contained in the mask can be imaged once onto the semiconductor wafer. If the semiconductor wafer has a diameter of 300 mm, for example, then the structure contained in the mask can be imaged onto the semiconductor wafer approximately 150 times. In order to repeat an imaging, the semiconductor wafer, which is likewise arranged in an x-y plane, is displaced in said plane, so that, during a renewed scan operation, the partial structures are imaged onto as yet unexposed areas of the semiconductor wafer.
Step and scan systems are currently used in the production of DRAM memory chips. This system employs imaging apparatus that scan the structure contained in the mask and progressively exposing a section on the semiconductor wafer on which the structure is imaged, and, after the exposure of the section, migrate to a next section by means of a movement of the semiconductor wafer in the x-y plane and expose said next section.
The applicability of the imaging apparatus described, which effects illumination for example with a light wavelength of 193 nanometers, to ever smaller feature sizes of, for example, less than 70 nanometers can be extended with the aid of immersion lithography. During immersion lithography, a liquid is provided between the semiconductor wafer and the lens surface of the projection system that is nearest to the semiconductor wafer. The liquid completely fills the gap between the semiconductor wafer and the lens surface, thereby avoiding a light transition from lens to air. The resolution capability of the projection system is increased by avoiding the transition.
The liquid that fills the air gap, also called immersion liquid, has to satisfy a plurality of requirements. It should be transparent to the light wavelength employed and should have a predetermined refractive index. The liquid should additionally have a sufficiently low viscosity, so that sheer forces do not occur both in the event of a scan movement executed at high speed and in the event of a step movement. The term step movement denotes the movement of the semiconductor wafer that is necessary in order to bring the semiconductor wafer to a new position with regard to the projection system for a repetition of the imaging, so that the structure is projected onto an as yet unexposed section of the semiconductor wafer.
There are a number of disadvantages associated with the immersion liquid between the semiconductor wafer and the lens surface of the projection system. These disadvantages result from the scan movement of the mask and the movement of the semiconductor wafer that is coupled thereto. The movement of the semiconductor wafer relative to the immersion liquid generates turbulence and microbubbles in the immersion liquid. Such hydrodynamic effects reduce the quality of the imaging of the structure onto the semiconductor wafer. Furthermore, the immersion liquid generates a mechanical coupling between projection system and semiconductor wafer. Accordingly, a vibration in the semiconductor wafer is transmitted to the lens system, which again adversely affects the imaging quality.

Method and imaging apparatus for imaging a structure onto a semiconductor wafer by means of immersion lithography


Novel hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies reactive with purified mucin antigens from normal and tumor sources are generated using mucins, including purified mucins from tumor sources. Epitopes on mucin antigens from normal and tumor sources are demonstrated to be distinct, using these new antibodies. The antibodies may be useful alone or in combination, in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer including malignancies of the breast and lung.

Mucins are heavily glycosylated, high molecular weight glycoproteins with a carbohydrate content of up to 80% that are secreted by seroviscous tissues in the mouth, lungs, cervix and intestines. Mucins have been identified as tumor-associated antigens and have been isolated from the serum and ascites fluid of cancer patients, including those with breast cancer.
The fat globules of human milk are contained in a particular membrane derived from the plasma membrane of the apical surfaces of lactating cells. Interest in this membrane, known as the milk fat globule membrane (hereafter MFGM), has increased with the demonstration that some of the antigens found within the MFGM are mucin-like and are tumor-associated, particularly with carcinomas of the breast. Antibodies directed to epitopes on mucin antigens associated with breast cancer have been obtained from mice immunized with fragments of human milk fat globule (HMFG). These antibodies show promise for the diagnosis of breast tumors. Of particular interest are antibodies directed against high molecular weight (Mr greater than 200,000) mucin-like components of the MFGM. Antibodies to mucin-like antigens have been used successfully to diagnose micro-metastases in biopsies, as an indicator of tumor prognosis for radio-localization of tumors, and for serum assays to monitor tumor progression. Linsley et al., Cancer Research, 46, p. 5444-5450, (1986), incorporated by reference herein.
Most of the mucin antigens previously characterized have been found to be present in normal tissues in addition to tumor tissue. Variations in mucin-like antigens from normal and tumor sources have been studied by Burchell et al., J. Immunol., 131, p. 508 (1983), who found differences in the ratios of determinants recognized by two monoclonal antibodies (HMFG-1) and (HMFG-2) in normal human breast epithelial cells and in breast tumor cell lines. These investigators showed that the relative levels of binding of HMFG-1 and HMFG-2 varied between cell lines from normal and malignant breast epithelium, with the HMFG-2 epitope being more strongly expressed on the tumor cell lines. Sekine et al., in J. Immunol., 135, p. 3610 (1985), compared mucin-like antigens reactive with the DF3 monoclonal antibody, Kufe et al., Hybridoma, 3, p. 223 (1984), from milk and pleural effusion fluids from breast cancer patients. These studies suggest that mucins are antigenically complex, expressing a variety of epitopes on both normal and tumor tissues, and also indicate that mucins may vary in the expression of epitopes between different tissue sources. Antibodies that react with epitopes on mucin-like antigens that are found at elevated levels in sera from breast cancer patients, have also been described (Linsley et al., supra, and Frankel et al., J. Biol. Response Modifiers, 4, p. 273 (1985)). One of these antibodies, W1, is reactive with epitopes on a mucin antigen associated with breast cancer cells. W1 antibody has been used in an assay to detect the presence of antigen at elevated levels in serum from breast cancer patients (Linsley et al., supra). In addition to the W1 epitope, other epitopes, such as the T (Thomsen-Friedenreich) and Tn mucin epitopes which have been known to be associated with carcinomas, may be detected in an assay using monoclonal antibodies. Springer and Desai, Molecular Immunology, 22, pp. 1303-1310 (1985); and Springer, Science 224, pp. 1198-1206 (1984).
It would be desirable to develop new antibodies which demonstrate increased specificity in assays for tumor-associated antigens present in samples from human subjects. Optimally, such antibodies should be capable of identifying specific epitopes on a tumor-associated mucin antigen, which epitopes are found at greatly reduced levels on, or are masked on antigen derived from normal tissues. Such antibodies could then be used to perform more sensitive assays for detecting the presence of cancer by preferentially reacting with tumor-associated antigens in sera from patients with cancer.

Method for detecting cancer using monoclonal antibodies to new mucin epitopes


A terminal adapter including modulation and demodulation circuits for connecting a LAN and a WAN on the basis of an Internet standard protocol prescribing a procedure of communication as well as terminating a line service and providing data transmission to a terminal system. The terminal adapter further includes an extractor for extracting, from packets constituted by received data as an output of the demodulation circuit and transmitted data as an input to the modulation circuit, a simple network management Protocol message indicating the Internet standard network control protocol, and network control means for performing network control according to the simple network management protocol message and performing network control according to signals obtained from the modulation and demodulation circuits.

The present invention relates to a terminal adapter and, more particularly, to a terminal adapter which can effect efficient network monitoring when a plurality of LANs (Local Area Networks) are connected to one another via a WAN (Wide Area Network).
A LAN permits efficient inter-computer communication, and to date it has been utilized in a very wide variety of fields. Meanwhile, there may arise a case in which, after establishment of a LAN, its constituent computers are increased up to a physical limit, or a case in which it is intended to make communication with a computer in a different LAN established in a separate area. In such cases, it is necessary to expand the network or connect networks using a WAN. For connecting a LAN and a WAN or connecting LANs via a WAN (which is hereinafter referred to as LAN-WAN connection), a terminal adapter is utilized.
Heretofore, this type of LAN-WAN connection is realized by using gateway unit repeaters, bridges, routers and so forth. The gateway unit is a system for connecting networks of different systems. Usually, it has a protocol including a physical layer and a transport layer or more than these layers. The protocol is based on Ethernet and TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and constituted by a number of layers such as a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, a transport layer and an application layer.
When the gateway unit accesses an exclusive line or a switching line, including ISDN, via a terminal adapter, it effects in advance termination of the communication protocol in the LAN and protocol transform to a serial transmission form used in the WAN. Usually, the physical layer and data link layer in the LAN communication protocol are constituted by Ethernet or token ring and the network layer is constituted by IP. As the protocol for conversion to the serial transmission form for accessing the WAN, commonly called SLIP (Serial Line IP) is used.
For the LAN-WAN connection noted above, a protocol called SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is usually used for network control of the LAN and gateway unit. The SNMP prescribes a general network control system. However, the control message is exchanged on the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) which is a layer above the IP noted above. Meanwhile, the terminal adapters are used as modems, ISDN-TAs, multiplexing systems and so forth. These facilities perform network control according to such information as line signal level and signal-to-noise ratio, and they individually use peculiar network control systems not based on SNMP.
Therefore, for a LAN-WAN connection, it is necessary to operate independently a network control system for the LAN and gateway unit and a network monitoring system for the terminal adapter. This means that the network user has to use two independent control systems. Alternately, a third system is necessary, which effects collective network control by collecting information obtained from the above two control systems. Therefore, it is impossible to obtain effective management and control.

Permanent adapter having modulation and demodulation means for connecting networks


The invention relates to fibers, particularly binder fibers, made from polyesters and the polyesters themselves. The polyesters are the product of a reaction between a glycol component and a dicarboxylic acid component where the glycol component contains at least 50 mole % of a four carbon diol, such as 1,4-butanediol, or a six carbon diol, such as 1,6-hexanediol or a mixture of a four carbon and six carbon diol. Typically, the polyesters of the invention are semicrystalline and/or crystalline and have a specific melting point ranging from about 140 to about 185xc2x0 C. The polyesters of the invention may be formed into a variety of products, especially binder fibers for nonwoven fabrics, textile/industrial yarns and fabrics, composites and other molded articles.

The invention relates to fibers, particularly binder fibers, made from polyesters and the polyesters themselves. The polyesters are the product of a reaction between a glycol component and a dicarboxylic acid component where the glycol component contains at least 50 mole % of a four carbon diol, such as 1,4-butanediol, or a six carbon diol, such as 1,6-hexanediol or a mixture of a four carbon and six carbon diol. Typically, the polyesters of the invention are semicrystalline and/or crystalline and have a specific melting point ranging from about 140 to about 185xc2x0 C. The polyesters of the invention may be formed into a variety of products, especially binder fibers for nonwoven fabrics, textile/industrial yarns and fabrics, composites and other molded articles.
It is well known that copolyesters can be prepared using processes involving polyesterification and polycondensation. Generally, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,901,466, 5,017,680, 5,106,944 and 5,668,243, the reactants include glycol components and dicarboxylic acid components. Typically, one dicarboxylic acid component is terephthalic acid and one dihydric alcohol is ethylene glycol. Such copolyesters are relatively inert, hydrophobic materials which are suitable for a wide variety of uses, including, molded articles, such as those used in the automobile and appliance industries, food trays, fibers, sheeting, films and containers, such as bottles. Unmodified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is very high melting (Tm=255xc2x0 C.) and is therefore unsuitable for use in bonding nonwoven fiber and film laminates for use in the automotive industry.
Nonwoven fabrics are widely used in a variety of products. For example, nonwoven fabrics are suitable for use in automotive applications, composites, filters, roofing materials, backing materials, linings, insulation, face masks, medical/surgical, bedding, tablecloths, napkins, hygiene and absorbent products. High loft nonwoven battings are also used in a number of products, including comforters, robe wear, and bra cups. Generally, nonwoven fabrics are based on polyester, acrylic, nylon, carbon, glass and cellulosic fibers which may be bonded with latex adhesives, binder fibers, or polymers in powder form. The bonding of nonwoven fabrics with binder fibers provides a convenient method for making nonwoven fabrics without the need for water-based adhesives which are less environmentally friendly. Nonwoven fabrics bonded with binder fibers are economical to produce, and provide a method for making articles, which are unique or superior in performance. Other applications are uses in yarns to increase strength and reduce pilling or linting, as well as in prepregs, preforms and a wide range of composite structures.
Certain copolyesters have been found to be useful as binder fibers. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) copolyesters containing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol having inherent viscosity (I.V.) values in the range of about 0.6 to about 0.8 have been used in the past as binder fibers to bond polyester or other fibers. However, many of these polymers are amorphous or only slightly crystalline. Fibers made from these polymers are not fully suitable for automotive applications such as headliners which can be exposed to elevated temperatures in closed cars parked in hot climates.
Generally, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,217,426 and 4,419,507, linear, crystalline or partially crystalline polymers have been reported as useful for forming fusible interlining adhesives and in some instances as binder fibers. Indeed, binder fibers and powders made from poly (hexamethylene terephthalate) copolyesters (PHT) have been sold. Such powders and binder fibers include Eastobond FA 300 which was formed from a copolyester having 20 mole % 1,4-butanediol and had a melting point of about 125xc2x0 C. as well as Eastobond FA 250 which contained 20 mole % isophthalic acid and 20 mole % 1,4-butanediol and had a melting point of about 104xc2x0 C.
While previous polyesters and binder fibers may be suitable for certain purposes, such polyesters have not proven effective for repeatedly withstanding temperatures of up to about 110xc2x0 C. without losing bond integrity.
The invention answers the problems connected with previous binder fibers and polyesters by providing polyesters which are formed from the reaction products of at least about 50 mole % of a glycol having either four or six carbon atoms and by controlling the amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol to less than about 20 mole % of the glycol component. Through the use of the invention, polyester products can be formed which can repeatedly withstand temperatures of up to about 110xc2x0 C. without losing bond integrity. Further, by controlling the types of catalyst systems employed in the reaction of the dicarboxylic acid and glycol components, copolyesters or copolyester pellets having improved color may be formed.
The invention further answers the problems by providing polyesters having excellent elasticity properties, improved color and dyeing properties, superior thermoplastic flow characteristics and increased bonding versatility. The polyesters of the invention are suitable for use in a wide variety of applications, including molded products, such as those used in the automotive industry and binder fibers for making nonwoven battings and fabrics, textile and industrial yarns, and composites.
More specifically, the invention provides polyesters which are prepared with glycol components and dicarboxylic acid components. Generally, the glycol component contains more than about 50 mole % of a glycol having either four or six carbon atoms and less than about 20 mole % of ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol. Preferably, the glycol component is 1,4-butanediol or 1,6-hexanediol or a mixture thereof. Typically, the dicarboxylic acid component contains at least about 50 mole % of a dicarboxylic acid component which is an acid, anhydride, acid chloride or ester of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid containing from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid having about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof. Additionally, the dicarboxylic acid component will generally contain about 0 to about 45 mole % of one or more aliphatic dicarboxylic acids containing from about 4 to about 12 carbon atoms.
Generally, the polyesters of the invention have melting points in the range of about 140xc2x0 to about 185xc2x0 C. and are semicrystalline or crystalline and may be used to form crystallizable binder fibers. Furthermore, the polyesters of the invention when formed into a bonded structure typically possess elastic bonds which are less susceptible to cracking when subjected to repeated flexing. Thus, preferred fibers of the invention are capable of maintaining the shape and appearance of the bonded product over time. The invention is discussed in more detail below.
The invention relates to fibers, particularly binder fibers, made from polyesters, as well as the polyesters themselves. The polyesters of the invention are formed from the reaction of a glycol component and a dicarboxylic acid component. As used in this application, the term polyester is intended to encompass both polyesters formed from one glycol and one dicarboxylic acid and copolyesters which are formed from more than one glycol and/or more than one dicarboxylic acid component.
The polyesters of the invention tend to possess good color and may accept dyes more easily than previous polyesters. Indeed, with the invention, semicrystalline or crystalline polyester polymers may be formed and readily be processed into binder fibers having excellent binding properties. Furthermore, the selection of the glycol component and the dicarboxylic acid component may be controlled to form either crystalline or amorphous polyesters with glass transition temperatures preferably lower than that of polyethylene terephthalate. It is preferred that the polyesters of the invention are formed as semicrystalline or crystalline polyesters. It is most preferred that the polyesters of the invention are semicrystalline or crystalline and have a fairly sharp melting point and melt in the range of about 140 to about 185xc2x0 C., preferably about 140 to about 175xc2x0 C. and most preferably about 145 to about 165xc2x0 C. Through the use of the glycols having four or six carbon atoms, such as 1,4-butanediol or 1,6-hexanediol, it is possible to form the desired semicrystalline or crystalline polyesters and achieve superior control over their melting points. Through the use of the invention polyester products may be formed that may repeatedly withstand elevated temperatures without losing bond integrity and when formed into bonded structures typically possess elastic bonds which are less susceptible to cracking when subjected to repeated flexing. Generally, the semicrystalline or crystalline polyesters of the invention may be either biodegradable or nonbiodegradable. These features and others are discussed in more detail below.
Glycol Component
Generally, the glycol component of the invention contains at least 50 mole % of a glycol having either four or six carbon atoms, alone or in combination with another glycol component. Preferably, the glycol component is 1,4-butanediol or 1,6-hexanediol or a mixture thereof. Additionally, to better control the melting point of the polyesters of the invention, it is preferred that the glycol component contain less than about 20 mole % of ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the four or six carbon glycols are aliphatic glycols and are present in an amount ranging from about 60 to about 100 mole %, more preferably about 75 to about 100 mole % and most preferably about 85 to about 100 mole %. Preferably, the glycol component is 1,4-butanediol or 1,6-hexanediol or a mixture thereof.
To better control the melting point of the polyesters of the invention, it is preferred that the glycol component contain less than about 20 mole % of ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol. Furthermore, while the composition may contain a minor amount of ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol, it is more preferred that the amount of these glycols is less than about 10 mole % and most preferably less than about 5 mole % of the glycol component.
In addition to the four or six carbon glycols, the glycol component may also include up to about 20 mole % of conventional glycols including, but not limited to, glycols containing about 3 to about 12 carbon atoms, other than diethylene glycol. Suitable conventional glycols include, but are not limited to, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, neopentyl glycol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-2-isobutyl- 1,3-propanediol, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, 2,4-dimethyl-2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2-ethyl-2-isobutyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediol, thiodiethanol, and 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,3-cyclohexanedimethanol and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol. The cyclohexanedimethanol moieties may be present as the cis-, trans- or as a mixture of isomers. Small amounts of polymeric glycols such as poly(tetramethylene glycol) or poly(ethylene glycol) may also be used. In using such polymeric glycols, molecular weights ranging from about 200 to about 5000 are suitable.
Dicarboxylic Acid Component
The dicarboxylic acid component includes acids, functional derivatives of the acids, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of suitable derivatives include anhydrides, acid halides, esters and mixtures thereof. Typically, the dicarboxylic acid component contains a dicarboxylic acid component which is an acid, anhydride, acid chloride, ester or mixtures thereof, of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid containing from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid having about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof. Additionally, the dicarboxylic acid component will generally contain about 0 to about 45 mole % of one or more aliphatic dicarboxylic acids containing from about 4 to about 12 carbon atoms.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dicarboxylic acid component contains at least about 50 mole %, more preferably more than about 55 mole % of an acid, anhydride, acid chloride, ester or mixtures thereof, of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid containing from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid having about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof. Additionally, the dicarboxylic acid component will preferably contain about 0 to about 45 mole %, more preferably about 25-45 mole % of one or more aliphatic dicarboxylic acids containing from about 4 to about 12 carbon atoms. Preferred aliphatic dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, succinic, glutaric, adipic, azelaic, sebacic, suberic and 1,12-dodecanedioc acid. Preferred aromatic and cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dicarboxylic acid component contains at least one acid, anhydride, acid chloride or ester of an aromatic or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid in combination with at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid. When such combinations are employed, it is preferred that the aromatic and/or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids are present in an amount of greater than about 50 mole % and more preferably more than about 55 mole %. Additionally, depending upon its desired melting point, the polyester may be formed from more than about 70 mole % of the aromatic and/or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids. An example of a suitable combination includes about 25 to about 45 mole % of an acid or ester of adipic acid and about 55 to about 75 mole % of an acid or ester of terephthalic acid when 1,4 butanediol is employed as the glycol component.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dicarboxylic acid contains about 55 mole % or more of an acid, ester or anhydride of terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the dicarboxylic acid component is an ester or acid of terephthalic acid and/or naphthalenedicarboxylic acid alone or in combination with an ester or acid of adipic or glutaric acid.
It should be noted that any of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid isomers or mixtures of isomers may be used with the 1,4-, 1,5-, 2,6- and 2,7-isomers being preferred with the 2,6-isomer being most preferred. The 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid moieties may be as the cis-, trans- or cis/trans mixtures of isomers.
Additionally, other dicarboxylic acids may be employed in the dicarboxylic acid component. The additional dicarboxylic acids, other than those described above, generally contain about 4 to about 40 carbon atoms, for example, an acid or ester of an aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid. Suitable additional dicarboxylic acids or esters are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,608,031 and 5,668,243, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Particularly preferred examples of additional dicarboxylic acid components include, but are not limited to, sulfoisophthalic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanediacetic acid, diphenyl-4,4xe2x80x2-dicarboxylic acid, and dimer acid. The additional dicarboxylic acid components may be added in amounts up to about 20 mole %, more preferably up to about 10 mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component.
Amine Compounds
It is also possible to form the polyesters of the invention in the presence of up to about 20 mole % of an amine compound. Suitable amine containing compounds, include, but are not limited to, aminoalcohols and diamines in an amount of up to about 20 mole % of the glycol component or amine compounds such as aminoacids and lactams in an amount of up to about 20 mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component. The presence of the aminoalcohols, aminoacids, diamines or lactams in the glycol and dicarboxylic acid components provides for the formation of polyesteramides. These polyesteramides possess good binder fiber properties and, in addition, have excellent dyeing characteristics. In particular, deeper dyeing may be achieved through the use of the polyesteramides as compared to unmodified polyethylene terephthlate having the same I.V.
Generally, aminoalcohols for the invention include, but are not limited to, 2-aminoethanol, N,N-diethyl3-amino-1,2propanediol and 4-aminomethylcyclohexanemethanol. Typical diamines include, but are not limited to, ethylenediamine, trimethylenediamine, tetramethylenediamine, pentamethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, octamethylenediamine, dodecamethylenediamine and 1,4-cyclohexane-bis-methylamine. Additionally, examples of suitable lactams include, but are not limited to, caprolactam, laurolactam and azacyclododecan-2-one.
Branching Agents
The polyesters of the invention may be linear or branched. By adding a branching agent to the reaction of the glycol component and dicarboxylic acid component, the melt strength of the resulting polyester may be increased. When using a branching agent, small amounts, typically less than about 2 mole %, of conventional branching agents may be reacted with the glycol component and dicarboxylic acid component to form the inventive polyesters. Conventional branching agents include polyfunctional acids, anhydrides, alcohols and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable branching agents, include, but are not limited to, trimellitic anhydride, pyromellitic dianhydride, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, 3-amino-1,2-propanediol, and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol.
Reaction Process for Forming the Polyesters
In forming the polyesters of the invention, the reaction of the glycol component and the dicarboxylic acid component may be carried out using conventional polyester polymerization conditions. When preparing the polyesters by means of an ester interchange reaction, i.e., from the ester form of the dicarboxylic acid components, the reaction process may comprise two steps. In the first step, the glycol component and the dicarboxylic acid component, such as, for example, dimethyl terephthalate and dimethyl adipate, are reacted at elevated temperatures, typically, about 180xc2x0 C. to about 280xc2x0 C. and pressures ranging from about 0.0 to about 60 psig. Preferably, the temperature for the ester interchange reaction ranges from about 190xc2x0 C. to about 240xc2x0 C., more preferably about 190xc2x0 C. to about 230xc2x0 C. while the preferred pressure ranges from about 15 psig to about 40 psig. Thereafter, the reaction product can be heated under still higher temperatures and under reduced pressure to form polyester with the elimination of glycol, which is readily volatilized under these conditions and removed from the system. This second step, or polycondensation step, may be continued under higher vacuum and at a temperature which generally ranges from about 240xc2x0 C. to about 290xc2x0 C. Preferably the temperature ranges from about 245xc2x0 C. to about 265xc2x0 C., until a polyester having the desired degree of polymerization, determined by I.V., is obtained. In order to obtain polymers with excellent color, it is desirable to limit the final polycondensation temperature to a maximum of about 260xc2x0 C. to 265xc2x0 C. The polycondensation step may be conducted under reduced pressure which ranges from about 400 mm Hg (torr) to about 0.1 mm Hg (torr).
To ensure that the reaction of the glycol component and dicarboxylic acid component by an ester interchange reaction mechanism is driven to completion, it is preferred to employ a stoichiometric excess of glycol component. For example, about 1.2 to about 3 moles and more preferably about 1.8 to about 2.4 moles of glycol component to one mole dicarboxylic acid component are desirable. However, the ratio of glycol component to dicarboxylic acid component is generally determined by the design of the reactor in which the polymerization reaction process occurs.
The polyesters may be prepared by direct esterification, i.e., from the acid form of the dicarboxylic acid component. For example, polyesters may be produced by reacting at least one dicarboxylic acid selected from terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and/or one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid with the glycol components. The direct esterification is conducted at a pressure of from about 1 to about 200 pounds per square inch gauge. To produce a low molecular weight, linear or branched polyester product having an average degree of polymerization of from about 1.4 to about 10, it is preferred to employ a pressure of less than about 100 psig. The temperatures employed during the direct esterification reaction typically range from about 180xc2x0 C. to about 280xc2x0 C., more preferably ranging from about 220xc2x0 C. to about 260xc2x0 C. This low molecular weight polymer may then be polymerized by a polycondensation reaction.
To ensure that the reaction of the glycol and dicarboxylic acid components by a direct esterification reaction mechanism is driven to completion, it is preferred to employ a stoichiometric excess of glycol component. For example, about 4.0 to 1.01 moles, more preferably 2.0 to 1.1 moles glycol component to one mole dicarboxylic acid component may be used. However, the ratio of glycol component to dicarboxylic acid component will be determined by the design of the reactor in which the reaction process occurs. A high temperature, low pressure step is also needed to complete the polymerization, by removing glycol.
The process of forming the polyesters of the invention may be conducted as a batch, semi-batch or continuous process. Advantageously the process is operated as a continuous process. Indeed, it is possible to produce superior coloration of the polyester when using a continuous process as the polyester may deteriorate in appearance if the polyester is allowed to reside in a reactor at an elevated temperature for too long a duration.
Catalyst System
A variety of catalyst systems are useful in promoting the reaction of the glycol component and the dicarboxylic acid component. Generally, it is preferred to employ a catalyst in the reaction as without the aid of a suitable catalyst, the polymerization reactions do not proceed at a noticeable rate. Typically a catalyst system will contain catalytic materials and catalytic inhibitors.
Catalytic Materials
Catalytic materials which are suitable for the catalyst system include, but are not limited to, materials containing titanium, manganese, zinc, cobalt, antimony, gallium, lithium, calcium, silicon, and germanium. Such catalyst systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,907,754, 3,962,189, 4,010,145, 4,356,299, 5,017,680, 5,668,243, and 5,681,918, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Generally, the catalyst system used to prepare the polyesters of the invention, comprises materials which contain titanium, manganese and/or zinc and mixtures thereof. While the amounts of the individual catalytic materials in the catalyst system will vary, it is desired that the total amount of catalytic materials in the catalyst system be below about 125 ppm, preferably below about 100 ppm and most preferably below about 80 ppm. The xe2x80x9cppmxe2x80x9d for the catalytic materials in the catalyst system and the catalytic inhibitor described below, refers to the weight of the element referred to and is based upon the weight of the final polyester product.
While titanium catalytic materials may be added in the form of complexed materials such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,680, the titanium catalytic materials are preferably added in the form of an alkoxide in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 85 ppm as titanium, more preferably about 3 to about 50 and most preferably about 5 to about 35 ppm as titanium. Indeed, copolyesters formed with lower levels of titanium catalytic materials have better stability when held in the melt. Suitable titanium alkoxides include, but are not limited to, acetyl triisopropyl titanate, tetraisopropyl titanate and tetraisobutyl titanate. Particularly preferred titanium catalytic materials include acetyl triisopropyl titanate and tetraisopropyl titanate. The titanium catalytic material may be added to the reaction process prior to direct esterification or ester interchange reaction or prior to the polycondensation reaction.
Manganese catalytic materials are typically added in the form of a salt, such as an organic acid salt in an amount ranging from about 0 to 70 ppm. When employing an ester interchange reaction it is preferred that the manganese is present in an amount of about 20 to about 70 ppm, more preferably about 30 to about 70 ppm and most preferably about 40 to about 70 ppm. Examples of suitable manganese catalyst salts include, but are not limited to, manganous benzoate tetrahydrate, manganese chloride, manganese oxide, manganese acetate, manganese acetylacetonate, and manganese succinate. Manganese is added to the reaction process prior to an ester interchange reaction.
Zinc may be added to the catalyst system in addition to the manganese or in place of the manganese catalyst. Zinc catalytic materials are typically added in the form of a salt in an amount ranging from 0 to 100 ppm, preferably about 25 to about 100 ppm and more preferably about 50 to about 80 ppm. Examples of suitable zinc compounds include, but are not limited to, zinc acetate, zinc succinate, and zinc alkoxide. Zinc is typically added to the reaction process prior to an ester interchange reaction.
If desired, a cobalt catalytic material, may also be employed as part of the catalyst system. When employed, cobalt is typically added in the form of a salt, such as an organic acid salt. Examples of suitable cobalt salts include, but are not limited to, cobaltous acetate trihydrate, cobaltous nitrate, cobaltous chloride, cobalt acetylacetonate, cobalt naphthenate, and cobalt salicylate. Cobalt may be added in an amount of up to about 100 ppm, more preferably up to about 90 ppm. As described below, the cobalt may function as both a catalytic material and as a colorant. As a colorant, cobalt is generally added to the reaction process after a direct esterification or ester interchange reaction. As cobalt is generally used as a colorant, the amount of cobalt is not considered when calculating the total amount of catalytic material.
In some embodiments antimony may be employed, however, it is preferred that the catalyst system not contain antimony. Indeed, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the copolyesters of the invention, and the fibers and binder fibers formed therefrom, do not contain any antimony catalytic materials. When used, however, suitable antimony compounds include, but are not limited to, antimonate esters of inorganic acids, antimony oxide, antimony alkoxides such as antimony isopropoxide, antimony halides, such as antimony chloride, antimony bromide and antimony fluoride, sodium or potassium antimonate, antimony carboxylates, such as antimony acetate and antimony glycolate or mixtures thereof. Preferably the antimony component is an antimony glycolate or an antimony oxide. Antimony is generally added after the ester interchange or a direct esterification reaction but can be added at any part of the reaction. When the copolyester is used to form binder fibers, antimony may be omitted from the catalyst system to avoid deposit buildup on the spinnerette face caused by the presence of an antimony containing catalyst.
While less preferred, calcium, gallium and silicon catalytic materials may be used in the catalyst system. Examples of suitable calcium catalytic materials include, but are not limited to, calcium acetate, calcium glycoxide, and calcium phosphate monohydrate. Examples of suitable gallium catalytic materials include, but are not limited to, gallium chloride, gallium nitrate hydrate, gallium oxide, gallium lactate and gallium phosphide. Examples of suitable silicon catalytic materials include, but are not limited to, silicon acetate and tetraethyl orthosilicate. Germanium catalytic materials include, but are not limited to oxides, organic salts and in particular germanium glycolates.
A preferred ester interchange catalyst system for reacting dicarboxylic acid component esters with glycols contains titanium, manganese, and optionally cobalt, catalytic materials. In the ester interchange catalyst system, the titanium is present in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 85 ppm, preferably about 3 to about 50 ppm, more preferably 5 to 35 ppm, and the manganese is present in an amount ranging from about 30 to about 70 ppm. For direct esterification, a catalyst is not required but is usually added. Titanium catalysts are the preferred catalysts for accelerating the direct esterification. Titanium is also the preferred catalyst for the polycondensation that follows esterification. In this system, the titanium is present in an amount up to about 85 ppm, preferably up to about 50 ppm and more preferably up to about 35 ppm. The titanium can be added any time before polycondensation, but preferably at the beginning of the reaction. Other catalyst systems can also be used but ester exchange catalysts, such as zinc and manganese are not required nor are they desirable when starting with dicarboxylic acids.
Additionally, in another embodiment of the ester interchange or direct esterification catalyst systems, the total amount of catalytic materials in the catalyst system is less than or equal to about 125 ppm, preferably less than about 100 ppm, more preferably less than about 85 ppm and most preferably less than about 70 ppm. A preferred ester catalyst system is typically used in combination with a catalytic inhibitor comprising about 5 to about 90 ppm phosphorus; and a colorant in an effective amount, for example, about 2 to about 10 ppm of a blue and/or red substituted anthraquinone dye. Again, in most cases, the preferred ester interchange catalyst system is substantially free of zinc catalytic materials, more preferably contains less than 5 ppm zinc catalytic materials and most preferably is free of zinc catalytic materials. Additionally, when binder fibers are desired, the preferred ester interchange catalyst system is substantially free of antimony catalytic materials, more preferably contains less than 5 ppm antimony catalytic materials and most preferably is free of antimony catalytic materials.
Catalytic Inhibitor
To stabilize the effects of the catalyst system and to promote efficiency of zinc, manganese and cobalt catalytic materials, it is desirable to add a phosphorus-containing catalytic inhibitor to the reaction process, preferably after an ester interchange or direct esterification reaction but prior to conducting the polycondensation reaction step. Typically, a phosphorus-containing additive is added in the form of an acid or a phosphate, such as phosphoric acid or an organic phosphate ester in an amount ranging up to about 90 ppm and more preferably ranging in amounts up to about 75 ppm. Typically lower amounts of phosphorus inhibitors are employed when using lower amounts of titanium catalysts in the catalyst system. Suitable phosphate esters for use in this invention include, but are not limited to, ethyl acid phosphate, diethyl acid phosphate, trialkyl phosphates such as triethyl phosphate and tris-2-ethylhexyl phosphate as well as arylalkyl phosphates. One useful phosphate catalytic inhibitor is sold under the Merpol(copyright) A tradename which is commercially available from Du Pont de Nemours of Wilmington, Del.
Colorants
In forming the polyesters of the invention, colorants, sometimes referred to as toners, may be added to impart a desired neutral hue and/or brightness to the resulting polyester. This helps to offset any naturally occurring yellowness in the polyester. When colored polyesters are desired, pigments, whiteners or colorants may be added to the reaction mixture during the reaction of the glycol component and the dicarboxylic acid component or they may be melt blended with the preformed polyester. A preferred method of including colorants is to copolymerize thermally stable organic colorants having reactive groups such that the colorant is incorporated into the polyester to improve the hue of the polyester. For example, colorants such as dyes possessing reactive hydroxyl and/or carboxyl groups, including, but not limited to, blue and red substituted anthraquinones, may be copolymerized into the polymer chain. Colorants and dyes are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,521,556, 4,740,581, 4,749,772, 4,749,773, 4,749,774, 4,950,732, 5,252,699, 5,384,377, 5,372,864, 5,340,910 and 5,681,918, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. When dyes are employed as colorants, they may be added to the polyester reaction process after an ester interchange or direct esterification reaction. Furthermore, when a dye or dye mixture is employed as the toner colorant for the polyester, it is preferred that the total amount of dye is less than about 10 ppm. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the colorant is free of cobalt, i.e., the colorant employed produces the desired color in the absence of cobalt.
Alternatively, inorganic pigments, such as titanium dioxide and cobalt containing materials, may be added to the polyester reaction. Advantageously when a catalyst material contains cobalt, the cobalt may also act as a colorant. Care must be taken to control the level of cobalt in order to avoid opacity and dingy appearance in the polyesters of the invention. To control the level of opacity and dinginess, cobalt may be employed in an amount ranging up to about 90 ppm.
Polyesters of the Invention
With the invention, semicrystalline or crystalline polyester polymers may be formed and readily processed into fibers, such as binder fibers having excellent bonding properties. The polyesters of the invention are capable of exhibiting good color and may accept dyes more easily than polyethylene terephthalate polyesters. Furthermore, these copolyesters are more easily dyed at lower temperatures and typically more easily printed.
The polyesters of the invention have an inherent viscosity, I.V., ranging from about 0.4 to about 1.8. Preferably the polyesters of the invention have an I.V. ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.4, and most preferably about 0.6 to about 1.3. The I.V. of the polyesters of the invention is determined by measuring the I.V. at 25xc2x0 C. using 0.5 g polymer per 100 mL of a solvent consisting of 60% by weight phenol and 40% by weight tetrachloroethane. The basic method of determining the I.V. of a polyester is set forth in ASTM D-2857-95.
The semicrystalline or crystalline polyesters of the invention, with their controlled melting point, are able to bond to objects when activated by conventional means. The preferred polyesters of the invention are capable of resisting failure when the bonded objects are repeatedly subjected to elevated temperatures. For example, headliners and seating components in an automobile formed with the polyesters of the invention preferably do not soften or sag when exposed to elevated summer temperatures which may be as high as 110xc2x0 C. in a closed car. Additionally, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyhexylene terephthalate (PHT) melt at 225xc2x0 C. and 155xc2x0 C., respectively, and are readily modified with comonomers to provide copolymers having a melting point within the desired range. PET melts at a temperature so high, 255xc2x0 C., that high concentrations of comonomer are required to lower its melting point to a low range. The high comonomer concentrations for PET, however, tend to cause the formation of amorphous polymers which do not provide suitable bonding when a bonded object is repeatedly subjected to highly elevated temperatures. Also, it has been found that a polyester derived from terephthalic acid and diethylene glycol is very slow to crystallize and has a very low order of crystallinity. Thus, to provide a suitable level of crystallinity and control over the melting temperature of the inventive polyesters, it is desired that the total concentration of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol is less than about 20 mole % of the glycol component.
Methods for determining the degree of crystallinity are known in the art, for example, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), density gradient tubes, and x-ray diffraction techniques. Methods for determining crystallinity are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,991, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Although any method known in the art would be acceptable to determine the degree of crystallinity, the differential scanning calorimetry method is preferred. For DSC analysis, a sample is heated and the temperature is monitored. A crystallization transition and/or crystalline melting transition is observed upon heating a crystalline material. A crystalline polymer will have a well defined crystalline melting peak and temperature. In contrast, an amorphous material will have no crystallization or crystalline melting transition, i.e., no definite melting point. The degree of crystallinity is generally determined by measuring the area under the endotherm peak.
The polyesters of the invention, especially low I.V. polyesters, are capable of bonding activation at lower temperatures and have improved melt flow at lower temperatures than previous polyesters, as measured by the Kayeness instrument, which is similar to the Tinius Olsen Indexer. This improved melt flow may beneficially result in stronger bonds at lower temperatures or shorter exposures and allows for higher manufacturing speeds in the nonwoven bonding activation step. The use of lower bonding temperatures aids in minimizing detrimental effects to higher melting point fibers when they are blended with the polyesters of the invention. For example, the use of lower bonding temperatures aids in the reduction of discoloration, shrinkage, loss of crimp and resiliency, change of tactile aesthetics, less volatilization and smoking of fiber finishes.
Another feature of the polyesters is that when properly activated the polyesters are capable of forming strong bonds with a wide range of polyesters as well as cellulosics (cotton, flax, pulp, cotton linter pulp, fluff pulp and wood fibers, rayons, lyocell, cellulose acetates and other natural and regenerated forms), plus other fibrous and film materials. The polyesters of the invention can be melt spun into fibers, both staple and filament. The polyesters are likewise suitable for use in conventional fabric or web/fabric forming extrusion processes such as spunbonding and melt blowing. As apparent, the elastic behavior of the polyesters offers a wide variety of advantages for a number of applications and can be modified in processing steps such as spinning.
Products Formed from Polyesters of the Invention
The polyesters of the invention may be used to form an article of manufacture or be used as an additive, such as a compounding additive concentrate or master batch for another polymer system. In addition, binder fibers and other articles may be formed with the polyesters that include, but are not limited to, filtration, automotive and structural preforms containing glass, polyester or other fibers, molded parts, sheeting and extruded films and fibers. The inventive polyesters may be part of the articles to be formed or may form the entire article.
Conventional additives may be added to the polyesters of the invention, depending upon the desired end use of the polyester. Suitable additives for the polyesters are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,608,031 and 5,773,554 herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Typical additives for the polyesters include pigments, antioxidants, stabilizers, flame retardants, delustrants, mold release agents, nucleating agents, tougheners, epoxy compounds, impact modifiers, adhesion promoters, conducting or antistatic agents, wetting agents, liquid repellent agents, antimicrobial agents, free radical stabilizers, other surface modifiers, lubricants, viscosity modifiers, dye promoters and other processing agents.
A preferred article of the invention is a fiber. The fiber may be prepared in any desired length known in the art and generally in the form of a continuous filament or staple fiber. Fibers may be made from the polyesters of the invention through any conventional means available including, but not limited to, melt spinning into fibers or directly into fabrics, the latter including spunbond and melt blown nonwovens. Depending upon the end use, any desired denier may be formed with the fibers employing polyesters of the invention, including fibers having a denier value ranging from microdenier to about 100 denier, preferably up to about 20 denier, most preferably about 1.5 to about 15 denier.
Fibers formed by melt extruding and spinning the inventive polyesters are easier to dye and are deeper dyeing as compared to polyethylene terephthalate homopolymers when employing the same aqueous dyeing conditions. Indeed, dyeing of the inventive polyesters to a deeper depth of shade is possible when employing similar dyeing conditions. Conversely, the same depths of shade can be achieved with lower dyeing costs as compared to the dyeing of polyethylene terephthalate homopolymers. When these fibers are formed into fabrics, they are also more readily printed compared to PET homopolymer fabrics.
Fibers formed from the polyesters of the invention may possess higher elastic properties than polyethylene terephthalate polyester fibers as measured by ASTM D 1774-94. For example, by this test, work recovery, specifically the amount of work recovered from the total amount of work required to extend the fiber to 10% elongation, is 84% for a fiber from Example 1, described below, compared to 41% for polyethylene terephthalate. Because of this distinct property improvement, the fibers of the invention can create highly recoverable, elastic bonds in laminated, molded and other bonded structures. These elastic bonds are less susceptible to cracking when subjected to repeated flexing and can aid in maintaining the shape and appearance of the bonded product over time.
The polyesters may be used to form fibers, such as binder fibers, in any desired configuration known in the art. The polyesters of the invention are preferably in the form of binder fibers having the form, or incorporated into, a fibrous structure. A major advantage of binder fibers is that bonded products containing the binder fibers can be obtained by applying heat, radio frequency techniques, ultrasonic frequencies or dielectric energy to a web or unbonded batting of filaments, with or without pressure. Upon activation, the polyester in the binder fiber softens and flows and upon cooling forms a solid bond with neighboring fibers. The binder fibers of the invention are particularly suited for bonding to polyester, acrylic, nylon, carbon, glass, cellulosic fibers, such as cotton, rayon, lyocell, acetate and pulp-based fibers, flax and scoured wool. Typically, the binder fibers formed with the polyesters of the invention will have deniers of about 1.5 to about 15. However, other fibrous forms such as melt blown webs or spunbonded materials may have microdenier sizes. Separatable, splittable, segmented spun fiber configurations may also have microdenier sizes. Furthermore, the fibers of the invention may be crimped, for example, with sawtooth, stuffer box or helical crimp.
An advantage of the invention is that the fibers of the invention are capable of possessing a deeper dyeability and enhanced printability compared to a fiber grade polyethylene terephthalate homopolymer. Indeed, when tested according to the AATCC Crockmeter Test, the fibers of the invention are capable of achieving the highest ratings for colorfastness. More particularly, the AATCC Crockmeter Test is a method designed to determine the amount of color transferred from the surface of a colored textile material to other surfaces by rubbing. It is applicable to textiles made from all fibers in the form of yarn or fabric whether dyed, printed or otherwise colored. The test procedures in principle involve rubbing a colored test specimen with white crock test cloth under controlled conditions. The color transferred to the white test cloth is assessed by a comparison with the Gray Scale for Staining or the Chromatic Transference Scale and a grade is assigned. When tested for colorfastness to crocking on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0 using the AATCC Crockmeter Test Method 8-1981, the fibers of the invention are capable of achieving superior wet and dry crock ratings of from 4.5 to 5.0.
The binder fibers of the invention may be in the form of unicomponent or bicomponent binder fibers or other multicomponent forms. For example, tricomponent fibers are also a possibility, utilizing a variety of polymers and polymer variants, sometimes with the intermediate layer being a tie-layer to promote interfacial adhesion. The tie-layer can be the polyester of the invention or blends of this polyester with other polymers. Similarly, the polyester of this invention can be used as a tie-layer in laminating and extrusion coating.
Multicomponent binder fibers, such as bicomponent binder fibers may have a sheath/core, side by side, or other configuration known in the art. For example, shaped binder fibers may be formed with the cross-sectional legs capped with binder materials during extrusion. The process of preparing and bonding a low melting point bicomponent binder fiber is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,956, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In a bicomponent fiber of the invention, the polyesters of this invention will be present in amounts of about 10 to about 75 weight % of the bicomponent fiber. The other component may be selected from a wide range of other polymeric materials including, but not limited to, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate polyesters (PCT), polyethylene naphthalenedicarboxylate (PEN), and polylactic acid based polymers or mixtures thereof. Bicomponent binder fibers may be blended with other fibers or used alone to make nonwoven fabrics and high loft battings having various properties. Generally, bicomponent binder fibers contain a polymer having a high melting point to ensure structural integrity during the bonding process and a lower melting or amorphous polymer to facilitate bonding. Sometimes, economics may dictate that a much less expensive core material be used.
Binder fibers from this invention are readily blended with a wide range of other fibers and subsequently heat or energy activated to provide nonwoven fabrics having good integrity and strength. For example, other fibers in the blends could include, but are not limited to polyester, acrylic, nylon, glass, cellulosic (cotton, pulp-based fibers, cellulose ester fibers etc.) as well as other synthetic and natural fibers. Incorporation in nonwovens can also aid lamination to other fabrics, films and some metallic surfaces. The amount of binder fiber in the nonwoven blend will generally be in the range of about 5 to about 30 weight %, although amounts as little as about 2 weight % can also be used. In some instances fabrics are formed using 100% binder fibers.
Another fibrous structure which may be made with the polyesters of the invention is a fiber which is formed by melt blending less than about 50% of the polyester with a polyolefin or functionalized polyolefin or a polyester other than the polyester of the invention. When melt blending, suitable compatibilizers may be employed for their desired effects. The melt blended polyester/polyolefin may be spun as a fiber to form a fibrous structure. This melt blending allows polyolefins to be spun in a natural state and dyed in separate subsequent operations, something which cannot be satisfactorily achieved with unmodified polypropylene.
The polyesters may also be used as an additive in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalenedicarboxylate (PEN), polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate polyesters (PCT) or other polyesters to enhance fiber disperse dye uptake and make it deeper dyeable, thus improving the depth of shading with the same amount of dye under the same conditions employed for dyeing polyesters other than those of the invention, for example a polyethylene terephthalate polymer. This technique can also enhance printability as compared to a fiber grade polyethylene terephthalate homopolymer.
The fibrous structures of the invention are particularly useful for processing into a wide variety of nonwoven, textile and tufted forms which may be activated in many different ways, including dry and wet heat, as well as ultrasonic, dielectric and radio frequency energy. They are also suitable for use in making a wide variety of products including, but not limited to, high loft battings, needlepunched fabrics, flat nonwovens, spunbonds, hydroentangled fabrics, stitch-bonded fabrics, wet-laid nonwovens and paper, woven and knitted fabrics, filter media, face masks, bath mats, scatter rugs, cotton and polyester carpeting, cellulosic insulation, absorbent products, wipes, furniture and auto seating and upholstery, headliners for automobiles, fiber board, particle board, fiberglass composites, fillings for pillows and sleeping bags, cushions, quilts, comforters, coverlets, mattresses, mattress pads, mattress covers, bedspreads, pile fabrics for industrial and apparel uses, blankets, women""s robes, interlinings, tiles, carpets, other floor covering materials, outerwear, foot- and handwear, ribbons, decorative yarns and fabrics, multilayer nonwovens, laminates and molded articles. In addition to binder fibers, adhesive powders may be produced from the polyesters of this invention, suitable for the powder bonding of nonwovens and lining fabrics.
Another suitable use for the polyesters of the invention is as a compounding carrier material. For example, the polyester of the invention may be mixed with additives, including colorants, to form a concentrate or masterbatch where the polyester is a carrier material. This concentrate or masterbatch may be combined with another polymer in a later process to provide color, opacity, flame retardancy or other beneficial properties. Polyesters of the invention will accept higher levels of additives, such as pigments, than polyethylene terephthalates of similar inherent viscosities. The polyester may be blended or mixed by any suitable technology known in the art.
The polyesters of the invention may also be blended with a wide range of other polymers as a component of the masterbatch but not the carrier material. Such other polymers include other polyesters, polyamides, cellulose esters, polycarbonates, polyolefins and the like. Such masterbatches may subsequently be blended with more of the same or different polymers to be used in fibers, molded articles, sheeting or films to alter or to enhance properties. Polyesters of the invention will accept high levels of additives, such as pigments. The polyesters may be blended or mixed by any suitable technology known in the art. Additionally, the polyesters of the invention may be in the form of an additive which is a melt blend of the inventive polyesters and a first polymer, wherein the additive when blended with a second polymer, which may be the same or different from the first polymer, is capable of forming a fiber. Thus, any fiber or article which contains, in whole or in part, the polyesters of the invention, is encompassed by this invention.
The following examples are intended to illustrate, but not limit, the scope of the present invention.

Polyesters having a controlled melting point and fibers formed therefrom


An item delivery and retrieval system including a storage subsystem and a computer subsystem. The storage subsystem includes a secure enclosure having an item storage carousel including internal controller apparatus. The computer subsystem is embodied in internet web page based customized application software for implementing an application interface of selectively configurable ActiveX controls for providing user access, such as an employee of a delivery service company and/or a customer of the delivery service company and customer access to one or more storage bins located behind a set of normally closed doors, for providing access control to the bins, and for managing the location of the items in the storage subsystem. The doors are opened when proper identification is provided by the customer so as to permit retrieval of items located in specifically designated bin(s) or to return items thereto.

This invention relates generally to item storage and retrieval systems and more particularly to a web-enabled item storage and retrieval system including a secure enclosure which is controlled by computer apparatus employing browser technology type software.
The overnight delivery business is a highly competitive business, requiring delivery companies to develop innovative approaches to reduce delivery cost and increase customer satisfaction. With today's lifestyles, persons, i.e., customers, are frequently not at home to accept deliveries and/or it is inconvenient to return items. Thus there is a need for eliminating the requirement of couriers, meaning persons employed by a delivery company to make a delivery to a customer, to make multiple visits to the same residence or small business in order to complete delivery transaction(s).
Accordingly, there is a need for a secure item and delivery and return system which permits a customer to retrieve undelivered items or return items at any hour of the day, seven days a week. Typically, a customer receives some type of notification that an undeliverable item is stored at a remote location where there is located an item delivery and retrieval system. When it is convenient, the customer subsequently travels to the location of the system and retrieves the items. The benefits of such a system include labor savings, increased customer satisfaction, improved traceability, and improved process control and item security.


A device is disclosed that uses a plurality of light sources. The light sources may be light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light sources are arranged and mounted to a deformable flexible substrate. The light sources are arranged and mounted to the substrate as to emit their radiation perpendicular to the substrate. The substrate is flexed in a concave or convex manner by motor, magnetic field or other mechanical means. The light sources may emit their radiation perpendicular to the substrate, or the may diverge or converge their radiation away from the substrate. Perforations in the substrate provide cooling to the light sources by convection or forced air. A threaded holder may be screwed onto threads on a case in order to bend the flexible substrate to change the direction of light from the light sources mounted to the flexible substrate.

When using a lighting device to illuminate an area it is often found necessary to change the profile of the projected light to match the object to be illuminated. When using a conventional hand held flashlight for example often the flashlight is equipped with a means for changing the profile of the emitted light from a spot to a wash. When using a conventional reflector and a single light source the reflector is often moved in relative position to the source to accomplish changing the profile. U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,523 to Lindabury discloses an illumination device that moves the lamp in relative position to the reflector.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,884 to Richardson discloses a variable beamwidth stage light with a single light source, relying on an axially movable reflector for changes in beamwidth. The reflector is constructed of a plurality of reflective leaves that are moved by a motor to change the focal length of the reflector. When working with a plurality of light sources, various methods have been disclosed that enable the multiple light sources to be converged or diverged. U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,070 to Chiu discloses an adjustable ring for concentrating multiple beams of light. Chiu discloses an apparatus for changing the angle of incidence of a plurality of light sources arranged in a ring. A threaded holder surrounds the ring of light sources while a cam mechanism adjusts the angle of the light sources that is operated by turning the threaded holder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,766 to Bailey et al. discloses a multi-color focusable LED stage light. A linear actuator is operable to move a base member containing an array of LEDs which in turn cause the LED array to change the direction of the optical axes of a substantial number of LEDs. By deforming the base member 20 in Bailey, the LEDs can be converged or diverged on an area to be illuminated.
The Bailey patent does not discuss the issues of thermal management. High intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) have a critical upper temperature operating limit. This can easily be exceeded when the LEDs are arranged in-groups as in the Bailey patent and the ambient air temperature rises.
Multiparameter lights of the prior art utilize a single light source with motors to vary the focus, color, position and intensity. U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,351 to Ballmoos et al. titled: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF A PLURALITY OF FLOODLIGHTS discloses a number of floodlights especially for the illumination of a stage or studio, in which the parameters azimuth, elevation, brightness, focus and color of a bundle of light rays of each floodlight are adjusted to an optimum value for any one of a plurality of lighting effects.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,187 to Bornhorst titled: Computer controlled lighting system having automatically variable position, color, intensity and beam divergence illustrates another example of the prior art. Each of the instruments houses a central lamp and an optical system designed to collimate the light from the lamp and vary the parameters of the light by inserting motor driven optical components into the light by remote control.
Multiparameter lights are generally controlled by a central control system via a serial data communications system. An operator operating the central control system may control each multiparameter light separately to adjust the parameters. Each multiparameter light may be provided with a communications address so that each multiparameter light may be addressed separately by an operator operating the control system
Multiparameter lights of the prior art are depicted in the High End Systems Product Line 1997 brochure.

Lighting devices using a plurality of light sources


A refrigeration apparatus, provided with a refrigerant circuit (90) having a plurality of refrigerant circulating routes and capable of operation in a mode where the plurality of refrigerant circulating routes differ in refrigerant evaporation temperature and/or in refrigerant condensation temperature, is activated by a single scroll compressor (10) including a casing (11) in which are arranged two compression mechanisms (31, 32), thereby making it possible to accomplish install-space savings, cost-cutting, and high-efficiency operation.

Refrigeration apparatuses which perform refrigeration cycles are known in the prior art. Such a type of refrigeration apparatus has been used widely as an air conditioner for providing room cooling/heating and a cooling machine such as a refrigerator, freezer or showcase for the storage of foods. Some refrigeration apparatuses provide both room cooling and refrigerator's storage space cooling (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. 2002-349980). This type of refrigeration apparatus is generally installed in convenience stores.
With reference to FIG. 11 showing a refrigerant circuit (100) of the above-described refrigeration apparatus, discharge pipes of two compressors (101, 102) join and their junction is linked to a single high-pressure gas pipe (103). The high-pressure gas pipe (103) is linked to one end of an outdoor heat exchanger (104). The other end of the outdoor heat exchanger (104) is branch-connected, through a liquid pipe (107), to one end of an air-conditioning heat exchanger (105) for room air-conditioning and to one end of a cooling heat exchanger (106) for refrigerator's storage space cooling. Branch pipes (108, 109) of the liquid pipe are provided with expansion valves (110, 111), respectively. And, the other end of the air-conditioning heat exchanger (105) is connected, through a first low-pressure gas pipe (112), to the suction side of the first compressor (101). The other end of the cooling heat exchanger (106) is connected, through a second low-pressure gas pile (113), to the suction side of the second compressor (102). By virtue of the above-described arrangement, the temperature at which refrigerant evaporates in the air-conditioning heat exchanger (105) differs from the temperature at which refrigerant evaporates in the cooling heat exchanger (106).
Problems that Invention Intends to Solve
In the above-described conventional refrigeration apparatus, however, each refrigerant circulating route requires a respective compressor, in other words the provision of the compressors (101, 102) is required. Consequently, the installation of the compressors (101, 102) requires a large space. Another problem is that the provision of the two compressors (101, 102) increases costs in comparison with the provision of a single compressor.
With the above-described problems in mind, the present invention was made. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to accomplish installation space reduction and cost reduction by enabling a single compressor to activate a refrigeration apparatus provided with a refrigerant circuit having a plurality of refrigerant circulating routes and capable of operation in a mode where the plurality of refrigerant circulating routes differ in refrigerant evaporation temperature and/or refrigerant condensation temperature.


A computer device and a method for converting a working mode of a universal serial bus (USB) connector of the computer device. The computer device comprises a USB connector, a power interruption unit, a first switch unit, a south bridge chip, a reading unit, a control unit, and a charging control unit. The USB connector is linked to an external USB device. When a fast charging instruction is received, the power interruption unit interrupts the power supply of the USB connector; the first switch unit performs switching, so that the USB connector works in a fast charging mode. When the control unit receives a common charging instruction, the power interruption unit interrupts the power supply of the USB connector; the first switch unit performs switching, so that the USB connector works in a common charging mode, and data transmission can be performed.

Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a computer device and, more particularly, to a computer device with a universal serial bus (USB) connector.
Background
As the development of the technology, various portable electronic devices that utilize universal serial bus (USB) are more common recently, which are convenient and necessary for users. In particular, the conventional computer device connects to external devices through USB transmission wire to provide expanding functions for users.
For example, when a smart phone is connected to a notebook computer through a transmission wire, the notebook computer can charge the smart phone in a general charging mode or communicate with the smart phone. The communication includes data exchange such as music, photos or address lists and so on. In addition, the notebook computer can charge the smart phone through a USB connector in a general charging mode or a quick charging mode. The two charging modes have different value of the charging current flow. The charging current flow of the general charging mode is about 500 milliampere (mA), and charging current flow of the quick charging mode is about 1 to 2 ampere (A). In other words, the quick charging mode has a quicker charging speed and shorter charging time.
However, to switch the USB connector from a general charging mode to a quick charging mode, the user has to disconnect the connection by removing the USB transmission wire that connected between the smart phone and the notebook computer, and then re-connect them again by insert the USB wire therebetween, thus to switch the USB connector to a quick charging mode. However, the manually connecting and disconnecting operations are rather annoying and inconvenient for users.

Computer device and method for converting working mode of universal serial bus connector of the computer device


A high temperature phosphor consists essentially of a material having the general formula LuPO.sub.4 :Dy.sub.(x),Eu.sub.y) wherein: 0.1 wt %.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.20 wt % and 0.1 wt %.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.20 wt %.. The high temperature phosphor is in contact with an article whose temperature is to be determined. The article having the phosphor in contact with it is placed in the environment for which the temperature of the article is to be determined. The phosphor is excited by a laser causing the phosphor to fluoresce. The emission from the phosphor is optically focused into a beam-splitting mirror which separates the emission into two separate emissions, the emission caused by the dysprosium dopant and the emission caused by the europium dopent. The separated emissions are optically filtered and the intensities of the emission are detected and measured. The ratio of the intensity of each emission is determined and the temperature of the article is calculated from the ratio of the intensities of the separate emissions.

In the temperature range lying above approximately 800.degree. C., measurements of the temperature of objects in a remote, non-contact, manner or on moving parts (or both) is very difficult. The measurement of such high temperatures by a remote method is often carried out by so-called pyrometric techniques in which the effective "color" of the light emitted from the hot object to be measured is compared to that produced by an externally heated wire or other object whose temperature can be varied in a controlled manner and whose optical emission can be calibrated as a function of temperature. This method suffers from a number of shortcomings including errors which arise due to thermally induced changes in the emissivity of the object whose temperature is to be measured, background reflections or interference, and in some cases, to the deposition of partially transmitting films on windows which may be interposed between the pyrometer and the object. In the case of temperature measurements on moving parts, direct (i.e. non-remote) traditional temperature measurement techniques involving resistive thermometry or thermocouples require electrical contacts which necessitate the use of commutators. The attachment of such devices is not always practical or possible, and in any event, their use can introduce electrical noise and errors in the temperature determination. Additionally, thermocouples are subject to degradation and to calibration drift. The subject invention overcomes these problems by employing an inert "thermophosphor" whose fluorescence properties are temperature dependent but whose optical emission is independent of emissivity. Such a thermophosphor can be interrogated in a remote manner (i.e. without the use of direct electrical contacts) and can be interrogated on rapidly moving parts without the use of commutators.