A device for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a beverage container in a beverage filling plant, comprising a filling product reservoir for accommodating the filling product to be filled and a first fill level probe for determining the filling product level in the filling product reservoir during a filling mode, wherein a second fill level probe is provided for determining a cleaning fluid level in the filling product reservoir during a cleaning mode.

Temporarily storing the filling product, which is subsequently filled in containers to be filled, at different positions within the beverage filling plant is known in beverage filling plants. For example, providing a filling product reservoir in the form of a ring bowl or a central bowl directly on a filler of the beverage filling plant is known, wherein the filling product to be filled is kept available immediately before the filling in the filling product reservoir. The filling product is then guided from the filling product reservoir to the respective filling valve, by means of which the filling product is then guided in a controlled manner in the desired quantity, the desired mass, the desired weight, or the desired filling level into the container to be filled.
Further filling product reservoirs are provided in a beverage filling plant, for example, in the form of buffer tanks. Such a buffer tank can be provided, for example, before and after a sterilization system, for example, a short-term heating system, to be able to maintain a predetermined filling product flow through the sterilization system for sterilizing the filling product using the predetermined parameters. This is significant in particular to be able to maintain a predetermined treatment time within the sterilization system, independently of how high the following withdrawal of the filling product is at the respective point in time, for example, in the event of system malfunctions at the filler.
Further filling product reservoirs can also be provided in the form of an auxiliary filling product tank at a filler or in the form of tanks, in which the carbonization of the filling product is performed. Further filling product reservoirs can be provided in different embodiments, volumes, and positions in a filling product filling plant. For example, a production tank can also be provided in a filling product filling plant, in which the filling product is firstly produced, mixed together, or provided in another form before the actual filling into the containers.
The mentioned filling product reservoirs share the feature that it is frequently necessary for the control and/or the regulation of the components of a filling product filling plant to determine the fluid level currently present in the respective filling product reservoir. This can be necessary, for example, since a constant filling product level is required in the filling product reservoir for reliable control of the respective filling product filling method, or to vary, for example, accelerate, slow, end, or trigger, upstream or downstream process steps.
In known filling product filling plants, the filling product reservoirs or at least some of the provided filling product reservoirs are accordingly provided with fill level probes, by means of which the filling product level within the respective filling product reservoir can be determined.
Furthermore, cleaning the filling-product-guiding paths within a filling product filling plant is known, in order to keep the filling product filling plant in a hygienically perfect state and ensure the product purity in the event of product changes. Different methods for treating the respective filling-product-contacted surfaces are known for this purpose, for example, completely flushing through the filling-product-guiding lines and also the respective filling product reservoirs or also treating the respective filling-product-contacted surfaces by means of spray nozzles provided inside the filling-product-guiding regions and in particular inside the filling product reservoirs.
To ensure within the filling product filling plant that the cleaning procedure is also carried out reliably, heretofore the fill level probes, which are used to determine the filling product level during the filling mode, have also been used to determine a cleaning fluid level during the respective cleaning mode.
A device for determining a fluid level and a fluid quality and also faults in a detection device and problems in a fluid supply is known, for example, from US 2015/0013646 A1, in which a fill level probe for ascertaining the filling product level and a capacitive sensor separate therefrom for ascertaining further features and in particular the fluid quality of the filling product are provided.

Device for filling a container with a filling product


The present invention aims to maximally reduce a projecting width of a projecting part formed on a terminal when the terminal is crimped to an exposed core part of an end part of a wire. To achieve this aim, a method for producing a terminal-equipped wire in which a crimping portion of a terminal is crimped to an exposed core part of an end part of a wire includes a) a step of arranging the exposed core part in the crimping portion, b) a step of sandwiching a part of the crimping portion between a lower die surface of a lower die and an upper die surface of an upper die and crimping the part of the crimping portion to the exposed core part, and c) a step of pressing an end part of the crimping portion protruding from the upper die surface from above.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for crimping a terminal to an exposed core part of a wire end part.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a terminal-equipped wire is known from Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-285983. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-285983, a terminal is provided with a core crimping barrel and this core crimping barrel is caulked and crimped to a core exposed from the wire end.
An example of a protective coating coated on a steel plate is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-166151.
A terminal is so configured that a connecting portion to be connected to a mating terminal and a core crimping barrel are coupled. Here, in caulking and crimping the core crimping barrel to a core exposed from a wire end, a compressive force is applied not to the entire core crimping barrel, but only to a part excluding the vicinity of an end part on the connecting portion side. This is because, if a compressive force is applied to the entire core crimping barrel including the vicinity of the end part on the connecting portion side, a load is applied to a coupling part of the core crimping barrel and the connecting portion and the coupling part may be deformed and damaged (e.g. cracked).
In the above mode, the core crimping barrel caulked and crimped to the core is shaped to gradually expand near the end part on the connecting portion side (bell-mouth shape), i.e. shaped such that the end part projects upward. If a projecting part is formed on a part of the terminal, when a protective agent for film formation is coated on a surface of a connecting part of the terminal and the wire, a protective film becomes locally thinner at this projecting part and it may not be possible to obtain sufficient protection performance. This problem becomes more notable as the projecting width of the projecting part increases.
Accordingly, the present invention aims to maximally reduce a projecting width of a projecting part formed on a terminal when the terminal is crimped to an exposed core part of an end part of a wire.

Method for producing terminal-equipped wire, terminal-equipped wire and terminal crimping device


A porous carbon black cathode is treated by brief exposure to a low press, room temperature gas plasma. The treated cathode is suitable for inclusion in a lithium based, nonaqueous electrolyte cell.

When lithium based, nonaqueous electrolyte cells made with porous carbon black cathodes are discharged at low temperatures, the near surface regions of the cathode are primarily utilized. Cathode surfaces contain such pendant chemical functionalities as alcohol, carboxyl, carbonyl, or esters that can significantly impact the electrochemical kinetics of reduction reactions taking place at the cathode surface. This is because adsorption, charge transfer reactions, as well as acid base reactions that take place on cathode surfaces in addition to cathode surface conductivity may be modified by the presence of various functional groups on the cathode surface. The exact role of surface structure in controlling the performance of cathodes has been an important question. If cathode surface chemistries can be substantially modified, under-load voltages of cells discharged at high rates and/or low temperatures should be markedly altered.
Chemical or physical modification of porous carbon cathodes have long been the primary means of increasing cell capacities or under-load voltage of various lithium based oxyhalide cells. Approaches that have been used to improve cathode performance in lithium--sulfur dioxide cells, for example, have included: use of additives; catalysts; selection of carbon blacks with specific surface and/or bulk properties; using blends of various carbon blacks having synergistic properties; or soaking carbon blacks with various solvents to remove impurities. However, each of these methods suffer from one or more serious drawbacks and are therefore not widely used in Li/SO.sub.2 cell manufacturing.

Treated porous carbon black cathode and lithium based, nonaqueous electrolyte cell including said treated cathode

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A virtual private line key telephone system is provided. The system includes a console including a plurality of line keys each associated with a party that can be reached via a switched trunk line. A look-up table means associates the line keys with the telephone numbers of the associated parties. A communication path is established from the console to one of the trunk lines. Signals are sent to the central office via the selected trunk line corresponding to the telephone number in the look-up table means associated with a line key that is actuated to place a calls. The telephone number of incoming calls are determined and compared with telephone numbers in the look-up table. Thereafter the line keys which are associated with the incoming calls are determined. The incoming call is coupled to the console when a line key associated with the incoming caller is actuated.

In the financial community, securities and commodities are usually traded using a private line trading network between brokerage houses, banks, and other trading partners. A brokerage house, for example, typically has one or more trading rooms coupled to a large number of telephone lines, usually private lines, going to its trading partners. A trading room may include any number of trading stations each including a key telephone known as a "trader turret" which provides key line access to a large number of the incoming lines. A large trading room can easily trade securities and commodities at the rate of millions of dollars per second.
A typical trading transaction involves a rapid series of short telephone conversations to locate traders having the desired security for sale at the best price. A typical call lasts ten seconds and there may be on the order of five calls per minute during the course of a single transaction. Private line key telephone systems provide immediate access and are preferred for the rapid, multi-call communications involved in most financial transactions.
Manual dialing is much too slow and cumbersome to be seriously considered in the hectic environment of financial trading. Auto dial systems where a single key actuation sends dial tones or pulses to a central office switch are also too slow for most trading operations since dial pulse systems usually take about eighteen seconds to connect, whereas tone systems usually take about fourteen seconds to connect. Private lines provide the desired immediate communication, but are much more expensive than switched lines.
The trader turret work stations are specially designed to suit the needs of a financial trader. The line key assignments on the console are a personal matter and may change as market conditions change. Typically a trader will want the most frequently called trading partners to appear at a specific line key and at specific locations on the console so that, in most cases, it is not necessary to take time to read the legends associated with the keys. The console must indicate the line status for all lines available at the console so the trader can tell which lines are in-use, on hold, ringing, or free. The console must also indicate the active line at the console so that the trader can always confirm the identity of the trading partner on the line.
An auto-dial line is not compatible with normal trader turret operations. With a switched line the central office switch selects the first available trunk to the trading room which means that the call from a particular trading partner can come in on a number of different lines. As a result, the call can appear at different locations on the trader turret which is generally unacceptable to traders. In addition, as previously mentioned, auto-dial lines take too long to complete a connection.

Key telephone system with virtual private lines


A travel mug that is configured to blend food and adapted for being transported with a user in a drinking configuration and for mounting to a blender for blending food therein in a blending configuration. The mug includes a cup body having an open top, an open bottom and a cavity therein. A drinking cap is removably mounted to the top of the cup body. The drinking cap includes a drinking hole and a closure movable between a sealing position wherein the closure seals the drinking hole and an open position where the closure is spaced from the drinking hole. A blade fitting, having a blending blade, is removably mounted to the bottom of the cup body when the travel mug is in the blending configuration. Further, a bottom closure is removably mounted to the bottom of the cup body when the travel mug is in the drinking configuration.

The present invention is directed to a travel mug configured to blend food and a method thereof and, more particularly, to a travel mug or a travel mug blender that is capable of being transported with the user and for mounting to a conventional kitchen or household blender for blending food therein.
Travel mugs or beverage containers, particularly personal hot beverage cups for coffee or hot chocolate and personal cold beverage cups for smoothies, are well known in the art. Such mugs or cups are usually well insulated and allow a user to drink or sip the hot or cold beverage while the user is traveling or on the go. Typically, a user will blend the beverage or smoothie at home, pour the contents from the blender into the travel mug or cup and head out the door to begin the day. A typical travel mug includes a cup body having an open top, a closed bottom, a cavity therein and a removable cap enclosing the open top of the cup body.
Problems arise for the user later in the day when the blended beverage, food or smoothie, within the mug begins to settle toward the bottom of the cup body and the drink is no longer properly mixed to the user's taste preferences. When the user begins to drink the blended food beverage or smoothie later in the afternoon, the taste of the blended food or beverage is usually not desired or a taste that is expected by the user. It would be desirable to provide a travel mug that is adapted for being transported with a user as typical travel mugs or cups are and for mounting to a conventional blender for blending food or beverages therein. Such a travel mug or cup that attaches to a conventional blender would allow a user to create blended food or a blended drink directly within the travel mug or cup. Also, a user would have the capability of remixing or stirring the contents within the travel mug without the need to remove the food or beverage from the cup body.
Further, when transferring blended food or a blended drink from a typical blender into a travel mug or cup, the blended food stuff can create quite a mess if a user is not careful to slowly pour the blended contents into the travel mug. Therefore, it would be desirable to create a travel mug that is adapted for mounting to a conventional blender for blending food stuff directly within the travel mug to prevent the blended food stuff from creating a mess on the exterior of the travel mug.

Travel mug configured to blend food and method thereof


An object of the present invention is to provide a curable resin composition capable of being quickly cured at a low temperature by irradiation of an active energy ray such as light and having excellent storage stability, and a curing method. Furthermore, in the curable resin composition of the present invention, which uses a component (D) in combination, the active energy ray curability is more improved. Provided is a curable composition containing components (A) to (C) described below:                the component (A) being a compound having 2 or more glycidyl groups in the molecule;        the component (B) being a compound having 2 or more thiol groups in the molecule; and        the component (C) being a photobase generating agent containing a salt having an anion expressed by the following general formula (1);

A technique of photo-curing of a liquid resin, and the like (a technique of polymerization and curing by irradiation of an active energy ray such as ultraviolet rays) takes advantage of characteristics such as curing at a low temperature, shortening of processes, short time curing and excellent fine workability as compared to conventional thermosetting techniques, and has been widely used for an adhesive agent, a sealing agent, a coating agent, a resist agent, and the like. Curing systems that are generally used in photo-curing at present are roughly divided into the radical curing system and the cation curing system. In the case of the radical curing system, a photoradical generating agent and a (meth)acrylate resin are main components, the system has a characteristic of quickly curing after light irradiation but has problems such as having generally low adhesion strength, large curing contraction and poor heat resistance. On the other hand, the cation curing system is constituted of a photo-acid forming agent such as diaryl iodonium salt and a triaryl sulfonium salt, and an epoxy resin, an oxetane resin, a vinyl ether resin, or the like, which has a cation polymerization property, and the photo-acid forming agent generates an acid in light irradiation to make a cation polymerizable resin cured. In the case of cation curing, the system has characteristics such as quick curing property, high adhesion strength and low curing contraction, but has problems such as generating curing defect due to moisture or a subtle basic stain in the surface of an adherent and causing erosion when the system is used for an adherent made of a metal or an inorganic material since a strong acid remains in the system.
As one means for solving such problems of the cation curing system, a study of anion curing by a photobase generating agent that generates a basic compound by light irradiation has been made in recent years. As such a photobase generating agent, for example, a carbamate derivative and an oxime ester derivative have been generally known, these compounds generate primary or secondary amines by light irradiation and used for curing of an epoxy resin (Non-Patent Literature 1). A technique of generating a basic compound by light has been largely used for a photoresist technique and, in order to obtain size stability of an edge developed in a narrow line width resist, an anion polymerization type curing system having less termination reactions is largely used (Non-Patent Literature 2 and Patent Literatures 1, 2 and 3). In a technique of curing an epoxy resin by a basic compound generated by light, examples of typical basic compounds include amines, and amines are bases generated by light, which have been the most useful until today. For example, a substituted benzyl carbamate derivative generates primary and secondary amines by light irradiation, which enables a curing reaction of an epoxy compound (Non-Patent Literatures 3, 4 and 5). On the other hand, trials for photochemically generating tertiary amines have been studied. Photo decomposition of a tetraalkyl ammonium salt is proposed as a method of photochemically generating tertiary amine (Non-Patent Literature 6).
Patent Literature 5 discloses a carboxylic acid ammonium salt, Patent Literature 6 discloses an α-aminoacetophenone derivative, Patent Literature 7 discloses an aromatic amineimide compound, Patent Literature 8 discloses a composition containing an amineimide compound, singlet•triplet sensitizing agents, and an epoxy resin. Further, Patent Literature 9 reports a system in which α-aminoacetophenones are present as a compound that effectively generates tertiary amine, and tertiary amine is more effectively generated after light irradiation in an addition curing reaction of an epoxy resin obtained by combining the compound and a hydrogen-drawing type radical initiator reacted with polyvalent thiol compounds to thus cure a resin. What is more, Patent Literature 10 and Non-Patent Literature 7 report curing of an epoxy resin by a compound that generates amidines by light, and a composition made of an epoxy resin and a thiol compound. Other than these compounds, a salt compound of quaternary ammonium and tetraphenyl borate (Non-Patent Literature 8), a salt compound of triazabicyclodecene and tetraphenyl borate (Non-Patent Literature 9), and the like, were reported as a photobase generating agent.
As described above, there are a large number of reported examples of techniques of generating a basic compound by light and such techniques have very high usefulness as a polymerization (curing) initiation system in curing an epoxy resin, in particular. However, in a photobasic generation system that has been reported so far, particularly in a system of generating tertiary amine, the generation efficiency is not very high and the system has a defect such that light irradiation for a long time is necessary to sufficiently generate amines. In the inventions described in the Patent Literatures 5 and 6, generation efficiency of tertiary amine to be generated is high but the generated tertiary amine has a low ability of catalytic activity and does not make an epoxy resin cured.
On the other hand, systems described in Patent Literature 7, Patent Literature 8, Non-Patent Literature 8 and Non-Patent Literature 9 are considered to be more useful for generating tertiary amine, but in fact, a time until an epoxy resin reaches complete curing is very long and the systems do not attain giving sufficient photo-curability to the epoxy resin. Patent Literature 9 discloses a composition made of an epoxy resin, a thiol compound and a photoanionic initiator, but the composition also does not have an ability of curing an epoxy resin quickly after completion of light irradiation.
Patent Literature 10 and Patent Literature 11 disclose curing of an epoxy resin by a compound that generates amidines having a large basic property by light as a photoanionic initiator and a composition made of an epoxy resin and a thiol compound, but do not mention specific blending compositions and how much curing speed is shown. Non-Patent Literature 7 discloses a technique of curing a composition made of an epoxy resin, polythiol and the photoanionic initiator disclosed in Patent Literature 10 in 2.5 hours after energy ray irradiation and that an optical a of the composition is more improved by thioxanthone or benzophenone, but the technique does not have a curing speed at a degree capable of curing an epoxy resin quickly after completion of light irradiation and storage stability of the composition was not also sufficient.


A chemically amplified positive resist composition excellent in adhesion to a substrate, as well as good in dry-etching resistance; suitable for use in excimer laser lithography utilizing ArF, KrF or the like; and comprising

The present invention relates to a chemical amplifying type positive resist composition used in the minute processing of a semiconductor.
In general, a lithography process using a resist composition has been adopted in the minute processing of a semiconductor. In lithography, the resolution can be improved with a decrease in wavelength of exposure light in principle as expressed by the equation of Rayleigh""s diffraction limited. A g-line with a wavelength of 436 nm, an i-line with a wavelength of 365 nm, and a KrF excimer laser with a wavelength of 248 nm have been adopted as exposure light sources for lithography used in the manufacture of a semiconductor. Thus, the wavelength has become shorter year by year. An ArF excimer laser having a wave length of 193nm is considered to be promising as a next-generation exposure light source.
A lens used in an ArF excimer laser exposure machine or an exposure machine using a light -source of shorter wave-length has a shorter lifetime as compared with lenses for conventional exposure light sources. Accordingly, the shorter time required for exposure to ArF excimer laser light is desirable. For this reason, it is necessary to enhance the sensitivity of a resist. Consequently, there has been used a so-called chemical amplifying type resist, which utilizes the catalytic action of an acid generated due to exposure, and contains a resin having a group cleavable by the acid.
It is known that, desirably, resins used in a resist for ArF excimer laser exposure have no aromatic ring in order to ensure the transmittance of the resist, but have an alicyclic ring in place of an aromatic ring in order to impart a dry etching resistance thereto. Various kinds of resins such as those described in Journal of Photopolymer Science and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 3, pages 387-398 (1996) by D. C. Hofer, are heretofore known as such resins. Also, use of an alternating copolymer consisting of polymeric units derived from alicyclic olefin and a polymeric unit derived from unsaturated di-carboxylic acid anhydride in a resist for an ArF excimer laser lithography is described in Proc. SPIE, Vol. 2724, pages 355-364 (1996) by T. I. Wallow et al.
However, using such a conventional resin, peeling off of the pattern is liable to occur on the developing process due to insufficient adhesion, particularly when its polarity is insufficient.
An object of the present invention is to provide a chemically amplified positive resist composition containing a resin component and an acid generating agent which is suitable for use in excimer laser lithography utilizing ArF, KrF or the like, and is satisfactory in various excellent resist performance characteristics such as sensitivity and resolution and, particularly, is excellent in adhesion to a substrate.
The inventors of the present invention have found that adhesion to a substrate is improved by using a resin having a polymeric unit derived from 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl-(meth)acrylate, a polymeric unit derived from unsaturated di-carboxylic acid anhydride, a polymeric unit derived from alicyclic olefin and the like as a part of the polymeric units in the resin composing a chemical amplifying type positive resist composition, and filed a patent application (JP-A-11-305444). They have conducted further studies and, as a result, have found that a specific resin having a polymeric unit derived from 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl-(meth)acrylate, in addition to the above mentioned polymeric units, is more effective for improving adhesion to a substrate. The present invention was thus completed.
The present invention provides a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a resin (X) which, per se, is insoluble in alkali but becomes soluble in alkali when subjected to an action of acid, and has
(a) a polymeric unit, derived from 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl (meth)acrylate, represented by the formula(I),
(b) a polymeric unit, derived from 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl (meth)acrylate, represented by the formula(II),
(c) a polymeric unit, derived from an alicyclic olefin, represented by the formula(III):
xe2x80x83wherein R1 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen or methyl, R2 represents alkyl, R4 represents hydrogen or hydroxyl, and R5 and R6 each independently represent hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, carboxyl, cyano or a group represented by xe2x80x94COOR7, wherein R7 represents an alcohol residue, or R5 and R6 together form a carboxylic acid anhydride residue represented by xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)OC(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, and
(d) a polymeric unit derived from unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride selected from maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride; and
an acid generating agent (Y).
R1 in the formula (I) and R3in the formula (II) is hydrogen or alkyl. It is preferred that at least one of R1 and R3 is hydrogen, since resin (X) having a polymeric unit derived acrylate exhibits more remarkable improving effects of adhesion to a substrate and dry-etching resistance than the resin not having a polymeric unit derived acrylate. R4 represents alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. It is usually advantageous that the alkyl represented by R4is straight chain, although the alkyl may be branched. Specific examples of the alkyl include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl and butyl. Particularly, ethyl is preferred considering balance of sensitivity and heat resistance.
Examples of monomers used for deriving the polymeric unit of formula (I) include 2-methyl-2-adamantyl acrylate, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl methacrylate, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl acrylate, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl methacrylate and 2-n-butyl-2-adamantyl methacrylate. These monomers can be produced, for example, by reacting corresponding 2-methyl-2-adamantanols and (meth)acrylic acids.
Examples of monomers used for deriving the polymeric unit of formula (II) include 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl acrylate, 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 3,5-dihydroxy-1-adamantyl acrylate and 3,5-dihydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate. These monomers can be produced, for example, by reacting corresponding hydroxyl adamantans and (meth)acrylic acids (JP-A-63-33350).
R5 and R6 in the formula(III) each independently represent hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, carboxyl, cyano or a carboxylate residue represented by xe2x80x94COOR7, wherein R7 represents an alcohol residue. Alternatively, R5 and R6 may together form a carboxylic acid anhydride residue represented by xe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)OC(xe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94. Examples of the alkyl represented by R5 or R6 include methyl, ethyl and propyl. Examples of the hydroxyalkyl represented by R5 and R6 include hydroxymethyl and 2-hydroxyethyl. Examples of the alcohol residue represented by R7 include unsubstituted or substituted alkyl having about 1 to 8 carbon atoms and 2-oxoxolane-3- or -4-yl. Examples of the substituents of the substituted alkyl include hydroxyl and an alicyclic hydrocarbon residue. Specific examples of the carboxylate residue, xe2x80x94COOR7, represented by R5 and R6 include methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, 2-hydroxyethoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, 2-oxoxolane-3-yloxycarbonyl, 2-oxoxolane-4-yloxycarbonyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropoxycarbonyl, 1-cyclohexyl-1-methylethoxycarbonyl, 1-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-methylethoxycarbonyl, and 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-methylethoxycarbonyl.
Examples of monomers used for deriving the polymeric unit of formula (III) include 2-norbornene, 2-hydroxy-5-norbornene, 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid, methyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, t-butyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1-cyclohexyl-1-methylethyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-methylethyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1-(4-hydroxylcyclohexyl)-1-methylethyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1-methyl-1-(4-oxocyclohexyl)ethyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-methylethyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1-methylcyclohexyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 2-hydroxyl-1-ethyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 5-norbornene-2-methanol and 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride.
The polymeric unit derived from unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride selected from maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride is represented by the following formula (IV) or (V):
The resin (X) comprised in the resist composition of the present invention may optionally has another polymeric unit in addition to a polymeric unit represented by the formula(I), a polymeric unit represented by the formula(II ), a polymeric unit represented by the formula(III) and a polymeric unit derived from unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride selected from maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride.
Usually, resins used in chemically amplified positive resist composition, per se, is insoluble or slightly soluble in alkali but becomes soluble in alkali when subjected to an action of acid, since a part of groups in the resin is cleaved by the action of acid. In the resin (X) comprised in the resist composition of the present invention, the ester group in the polymeric unit of formula (I) is cleaved by the action of acid, and the resin (X) becomes soluble in alkali. Therefore, the resist composition of the present invention functions as positive type. If desired, the resin (X) may further have another polymeric unit cleavable by the action of acid.
Various kinds of carboxylic acid ester groups may be a group cleavable by the action of acid in such another polymeric unit. Examples of the carboxylic acid ester groups include alkyl esters having about 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as tert-butylester, acetal type esters such as methoxymethylester, ethoxymethylester, 1-ethoxyethylester, 1-isobutoxyethylester, 1-isopropoxyethylester, 1-ethoxypropylester, 1-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethylester, 1-(2-acetoxyethoxy)ethylester, 1-[2-(1-adamantyloxy)ethoxy]ethylester, 1-[2-(1-adamantancarbonyloxy)ethoxy]ethylester, tetrahydro-2-furylester and tetrahydro-2-pyranylester, and alicyclic ester such as isobornylester. Monomers used for deriving such the carboxylic acid ester groups may be acrylic type monomer, such as acrylate and methacrylate, alicyclic type monomers bonding to a carboxylic acid ester group, such as norbornene carboxylate, tricyclodecene carboxylic acid ester and tetracyclodecene carboxylic acid ester, and alicyclic acid esters in which an acrylic acid or amethacrylic acid and an alicyclic group form an ester group, such as those described in Journal of Photopolymer Science and Technology, vol. 9, No. 3, pages 447-456 (1996) by Iwasa et al.
The resin (X) comprised in the resist composition of the present invention can be produced by a copolymerization of 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl (meth)acrylate from which a polymeric unit of formula(I) is derived; 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl (meth)acrylate from which a polymeric unit of formula(II) is derived; an alicyclic olefin from which a polymeric unit of formula(III) is derived; and unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride selected from maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride; and optional monomers used if desired.
It is usually preferred that amount of the 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl (meth)acrylate is 5 to 60% by mol, amount of the 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl (meth)acrylate is 5 to 50% by mol, and total amount of the alicyclic olefin and the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride is 10 to 90% by mol based on total amount of the all monomers used in the copolymerization, although the preferable ranges may vary depending on the kind of radiation used for patterning exposure and the kind of the optional monomers used if desired. Usually, the alicyclic olefin and the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride form an alternating copolymer.
It is advantageous that total amount of the 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl (meth)acrylate, the alicyclic olefin and the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride is 40% by mol or more, more preferably 50% by mol or more, based on total amount of the all monomers including the optional monomers used in the copolymerization. The amount of the 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl (meth)acrylate from which a polymeric unit of formula(II) is derived is preferably 5-40% by mol based on total amount of the all monomers used in the copolymerization.
The copolymerization can be conducted according to a conventional method. For example, the resin (X) can be obtained by dissolving the monomers in an organic solvent, then conducting a polymerization reaction in the presence of a polymerization initiator, such as an azo compound. Examples of the azo compound include 2,2xe2x80x2-azobisisobutyronitrile and 2,2xe2x80x2-azobis(2-methylpropionate). It is advantageous that the reaction product is purified by re-precipitation or the like, after completion of the polymerization reaction.
The acid generating agent which is another component is decomposed to generate an acid by irradiating the component itself or a resist composition including the component with radioactive rays such as light and an electron beam. The acid generated from the acid generating agent acts on the resin to cleave the group which is to be cleaved by the action of an acid present in the resin. Examples of such acid generating agents include onium salt compounds, organic halogen compounds, sulfone compounds, and sulfonate compounds. Specifically, the following compounds can be mentioned:
diphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
4-methoxyphenylphenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate,
4-mthoxyphenylphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium tetrafluoroborate,
bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate,
bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium hexafluoroantimonate,
bis (4-tert-butylphenyl) iodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
triphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate,
triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate,
triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
4-methoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate,
4-methoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
p-tolyldiphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
p-tolyldiphenylsulfonium perfluorobutanesulfonate,
p-tolyldiphenylsulfonium perfluorooctanesulfonate,
2,4,6-trimethylphenyldiphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
4-phenylthiophenyldiphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate,
4-phenylthiophenyldiphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate,
1-(2-naphthoylmethyl)thiolanium hexafluoroantimonate,
1-(2-naphthoylmethyl) thiolanium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
4-hydroxy-1-naphthyldimethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate,
4-hydroxy-1-naphthyldimethylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,
2-methyl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2,4,6-tris(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-phenyl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(4-methoxy-1-naphthyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxolane-5-yl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(4-methoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(2,4-dimethoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2-(2-methoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
2,(4-butoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-3,5-triazine,
2-(4-pentyloxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine,
diphenyl disulfone,
di-p-tolyl disulfone,
bis(phenylsulfonyl) diazomethane,
bis (4 -chlorophenylsulfonyl )diazomethane,
bis (p-tolylsulfonyl)diazomethane,
bis (4 -tert -butylphenylsulfonyl) diazomethane,
bis(2,4-xylylsulfonyl)diazomethane,
bis(cyclohexylsulfonyl)diazomethane,
(benzoyl)(phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane,
1-benzoyl-1-phenylmethyl p-toluenesulfonate (so-called benzointosylate),
2-benzoyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl p-toluenesulfonate (so-called xcex1-methylolbenzointosylate),
1,2,3-benzenetriyl trimethanesulfonate,
2,6-dinitrobenzyl p-toluenesulfonate,
2-nitrobenzyl p-toluenesulfonate,
4-nitrobenzyl p-toluenesulfonate,
N-(phenylsulfonyloxy)succinimide,
N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)succinimide,
N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)phthalimide,
N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxy imide,
N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)naphthalimide,
N-(10-camphorsulfonyloxy)naphthalimide, and the like.
It is also known that, generally in a chemical amplifying type positive resist composition, performance deterioration due to the deactivation of an acid associated with leaving after exposure can be reduced by adding basic compounds, especially basic nitrogen-containing organic compounds such as amines as quenchers. It is also preferable in the present invention that such basic compounds are added. Concrete examples of the basic compounds to be used as quenchers include the ones represented by the following formulae:
wherein R11 and R12 represent, independently each other, hydrogen, cycloalkyl, aryl or alkyl which may be optionally substituted with a hydroxyl; R13, R14 and R15, which are same or different from each other, represent hydrogen, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy or alkyl which may be optionally substituted with a hydroxyl; R16 represents cycloalkyl or alkyl which may be optionally substituted with a hydroxyl; A represents alkylene, carbonyl or imino. The alkyl represented by R11 to R16 and alkoxy represented by R13 to R15 may have about 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The cycloalkyl may have about 5 to 10 carbon atoms and the aryl may have about 6 to 10 carbon atoms. The aryl represented by R11 to R15 may have about 6 to 10 carbon atoms. The alkylene represented by A may have about 1 to 6 carbon atoms and may be straight-chained or branched.
The resist composition of the present invention preferably contains the resin(X) in an amount in the range of 80 to 99.9% by weight, and the acid generating agent(Y) in an of 0.1 to 20% by weight based on the total amount of the resin(X) and the acid generating agent(Y). When a basic compound is used as a quencher, it is preferably contained in an amount in the range of 0.0001 to 0.1% by weight based on the total solid component weight of the resist composition. The composition may also contain, if required, various additives such as sensitizers, dissolution inhibitors, resins other than resin(X), surfactants, stabilizers, and dyes so far as the objets of the present invention is not harmed.
The resist composition of the present invention generally becomes a resist solution in the state in which the above-described components are dissolved in a solvent to be applied on a substrate such as a silicon wafer. The solvent herein used may be one which dissolves each component, has an appropriate drying rate, and provides a uniform and smooth coating after evaporation of the solvent, and can be one which is generally used in this field. Examples thereof include glycol ether esters such as ethylcellosolve acetate, methylcellosolve acetate, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate; esters such as ethyl lactate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate, and ethyl pyruvate; ketones such as acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-heptanone, and cyclohexanone; and cyclic esters such as xcex3-butyrolactone. These solvents can be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof.
The resist film applied on a substrate, and dried is subjected to an exposure treatment for patterning. Then, after a heat-treatment for promoting a protecting deblocking reaction, development by an alkali developer is conducted. The alkali developer herein used can be various kinds of alkaline aqueous solutions used in this field. In general, an aqueous solution of tetramethylammoniumhydroxide or (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammoniumhydroxide (so-called colline) is often used.

Chemically amplified positive resist composition

Abstract: a resin (X) which, per se, is insoluble in alkali but becomes soluble in alkali when subjected to an action of acid, and has a polymeric unit represented by the formula(I), a polymeric unit represented by the formula(II) and a polymeric unit represented by the formula(III):

Abstract: and an acid generating agent (Y).


A radiation detector includes at least one multiple channel pixelated detector driven via a plurality of pixelated anode electrodes and at least one planar cathode electrode. Each detector is configured to reduce the number of active pixelated anode electrodes until a rate of events detected via at least one corresponding planar cathode electrode exceeds a preset threshold above a background count rate within a predetermined time period.

The invention relates generally to radiation detectors, and more specifically to a power management technique for radiation detectors with multiple channel ASIC or discrete readout electronics.
In a radiation detector that employs a multiple channel ASIC readout, the number of readout channels is set by the detector position resolution requirement and/or the need to correct the material non-uniformity, which is common for most of the high band gap semiconductor materials such as CZT, CdTe and HgI2. If the number of required ASIC channels is on the order of hundreds, and even if each channel consumes only a few milliwatts of power, the total power consumption for the readout ASIC could be on the order of a few Watts or more. For portable/handheld applications, a large power consumption requires a big battery, or the device can be used for only a short period of time before the battery has to be recharged or replaced.
One common approach to minimize power consumption associated with a radiation detector requires periodically putting the ASIC into a low power sleep mode. This solution is problematic however, since the detector is not sensitive to the radiation source while it is in the sleep mode. The radiation detector thus may miss detection of the presence of a radiation source.
In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a method of minimizing power consumption associated with a radiation detector that avoids the above problems.

Radiation detector power management for portable/handheld applications


A photonic crystal based collection probe is provided. The probe includes a photonic crystal configured to guide and condition a beam of Raman scattered photons. Further, the device includes a spectrograph in optical communication with the photonic crystal and configured to receive Raman scattering from the photonic crystal. The device may be employed in a Raman spectrometer system.

The invention relates generally to analytical systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a collection probe for use in a Raman spectrometer system.
The need for portable, rugged, high performance and low power analytical instruments is growing for a variety of defense and security applications where the ability to identify unknown substances is key. These expanding military needs require new instruments capable of detecting and resolving a large number of signatures from chemicals, biological analytes and mixtures thereof. These materials are potentially fluorescent as well as molecularly and structurally similar making identification very challenging. Given the danger posed by the presence of such biological and chemical agents in our immediate environment, whether in closed or open spaces, civilian areas or battlefields, it is imperative for such instruments to offer standoff and rapid detection capabilities as well as ruggedness to environmental conditions. This implies that minimal sample preparation is desirable and the analytical technique needs to be impervious to the presence of high percentage of water, immune to shock and vibrations and to numerous other environmental factors. Some of these desirable attributes are addressed by using Raman spectrometry. However, many of these capabilities, such as ruggedness and size still need to be addressed to make such a system portable and easier to be carried to inspection sites, rather than having to carry the sample back to the labs to be detected by these devices.
Photonic crystal based devices are employed for manipulating light in various ways. Typically, photonic crystal based optical devices with various functions including mirroring, waveguiding, splitting, collimation and spectral divergence are employed in analytical systems. While the implementation of these individual devices in a wide range of applications is very encouraging in demonstrating the capabilities of photonic crystals. Integrating the photonic crystal with other structures to form a practical optical system faces additional challenges. The integration of multiple optical components in these analytical systems employing photonic crystals require low loss optical couplers to transition the light between optical elements while maintaining polarization, mode profile with minimal scattering losses. Additionally, the fabrication processes needed to deposit, pattern, and etch these devices need to be highly integrated to enable multiple device and structure formation with the precision and accuracy necessary for device performance.
There exists a need for a collection probe for use in a portable analytical Raman system, which is integrated, compact and rugged.

Collection probe for use in a Raman spectrometer system and methods of making and using the same


A homeotropic alignment type liquid crystal display device is provided with first and second substrates confronting each other, first and second bus lines arranged in mutually perpendicular directions on the second substrate, liquid crystals provided between the first and second substrates, and first, second and third projecting structures restricting alignment of the liquid crystals. The first projecting structures have a sloping surface which is inclined with respect to the first substrate and are provided on the first substrate in parallel with the first bus lines. The second projecting structures have a sloping surface which is inclined with respect to the second substrate and are provided on the second substrate in parallel with the first bus lines. Third projecting structures have a sloping surface which is inclined with respect to at least one of the first and second substrate and are provided on at least one of the first and second substrates with an arrangement different from the first and second projecting structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to liquid crystal display devices, and more particularly to a homeotropic alignment type liquid crystal display device which is suited for use in electronic equipments such as television sets, personal computers, monitoring units and projection type display units (projectors).
2. Description of the Related Art
As thin film transistor (TFT) type liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, there twisted nematic (TN) type LCD devices which employ a normally white mode. FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the operating principle of a TN type LCD panel structure. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, alignment layers are provided on corresponding transparent electrodes 12 and 13 which are formed on corresponding glass substrates, with a difference of 90xc2x0 in alignment directions, so as to sandwich TN liquid crystals therebetween. The liquid crystals contacting the alignment layer are arranged in the alignment direction of the alignment layer due to the nature of the liquid crystals. Hence, as shown in FIG. 1A, the liquid crystals are aligned such that the direction of the liquid crystal molecules is twisted by 90xc2x0. A pair of polarizing plates 11 and 15 are respectively arranged on respective sides of the transparent electrodes 12 and 13, in parallel with the alignment directions of the alignment layers.
When a non-polarized light 10 becomes incident to the LCD panel structure described above, the light passing through the polarizing plate 11 becomes a linearly polarized light before reaching the liquid crystals. Since the liquid crystal molecules are aligned with the 90xc2x0 twist, the incident light is also twisted by 90xc2x0 when passing through the liquid crystal molecules. As a result, the incident light passes through the lower polarizing plate 15. This state is referred to as a bright state.
Next, when a voltage is applied on the liquid crystal molecules by applying a voltage across the transparent electrodes 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 1B, the liquid crystal molecules stand and the above described twist is eliminated. But since the alignment restricting force is strong at the alignment layer surface, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is still along the alignment layer. In such a state, the liquid crystal molecules are isotropic with respect to the passing light, and the polarizing direction of the linearly polarized light incident to the liquid crystals will not rotate. Accordingly, the linearly polarized light passing through the upper polarizing plate 11 cannot pass through the lower polarizing plate 15. This state is referred to as a dark state. Thereafter, when the voltage is no longer applied across the transparent electrodes 12 and 13, the liquid crystals return to the bright state due to the alignment restricting force.
On the other hand, as TFT type LCD devices, there are vertically aligned type LCD devices which employ a normally black mode. FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the operating principle of a VA type LCD panel structure. As shown in FIG. 2A, alignment layers are provided on corresponding transparent electrodes 22 and 23 which are formed on corresponding glass substrates, with a difference of 180xc2x0 in alignment directions, so as to sandwich negative type liquid crystals (liquid crystals having negative dielectric constant anisotropy) therebetween. A pair of polarizing plates 21 and 25 are respectively arranged on respective sides of the transparent electrodes 22 and 23, with a 45xc2x0 difference to the alignment directions of the alignment layers. Axes of polarization of the two polarizing plates 21 and 25 are perpendicular to each other. As show in FIG. 2A, when no voltage is applied across the transparent electrodes 22 and 23 and thus no voltage is applied on the liquid crystal molecules, the liquid crystal molecules stand. However, because the alignment restricting force is strong at the alignment layer surface, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules remain generally along the alignment layer (or slightly inclined to the alignment layer in some cases). In such a state, the liquid crystal molecules are isotropic with respect to the passing light. For this reason, when a non-polarized light 20 becomes incident to the LCD panel structure, the light passing through the polarizing plate 21 becomes a linearly polarized light before reaching the liquid crystals, but no change occurs in the polarized state of this linearly polarized light. Hence, the linearly polarized light passing through the upper polarizing plate 21 cannot pass through the lower polarizing plate 25, and thereby resulting in a dark state.
In addition, when a voltage is applied on the liquid crystals by applying a voltage across the transparent electrodes 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 2B, the liquid crystals contacting the alignment layer are arranged along the alignment direction of the alignment layer due to the nature of the liquid crystals. Moreover, the liquid crystal molecules which are aligned cause other liquid crystal molecules to align thereto, and as a result, the liquid crystal molecules as a whole become aligned in one direction, that is, in an approximately horizontal direction with respect to the electrode surface. When the non-polarized light 20 becomes incident to the LCD panel structure, the light passing through the polarizing plate 21 becomes a linearly polarized light before reaching the liquid crystals. The light incident to the liquid crystal molecules can pass through the lower polarizing plate 25 due to a birefringence of the liquid crystals changing the polarized state, since a major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules and the polarizing direction form an angle of 45xc2x0 thereby resulting in a bright state. Thereafter, when the voltage is no longer applied across the transparent electrodes 22 and 23, the liquid crystals return to the dark state because the liquid crystal molecules become approximately vertically aligned (form an approximate homeotropic alignment) with respect to the electrode surface (substrate surface) due to the alignment restricting force.
Compared to the TN type LCD device, the VA type LCD device has a high display contrast, a high response speed, and satisfactory viewing angle characteristics with respect to white and black displays.
Conventionally, various alignment processes have been proposed to align the liquid crystals of the LCD panel depending on the alignment layer. However, because of the weak alignment restricting force, the alignment was easily disturbed due to effects of an electrical field and the like, and there was a problem in that a disclination is easily generated. The disclination refers to a part where the alignment of the liquid crystals becomes discontinuous. In addition, when a rubbing process is carried out to align the liquid crystals, the alignment restricting force becomes relatively strong, but unevenness is easily generated in the alignment, and it was difficult to stably align the liquid crystals.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful liquid crystal display device in which the problems described above are eliminated.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device which can suppress the disclination and stably align the liquid crystals.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a homeotropic alignment type liquid crystal display device comprising first and second substrates confronting each other, first and second bus lines arranged in mutually perpendicular directions on the second substrate, liquid crystals provided between the first and second substrates, and first, second and third projecting structures restricting alignment of the liquid crystals, where the first projecting structures have a sloping surface which is inclined with respect to the first substrate and are provided on the first substrate in parallel with the first bus lines, the second projecting structures have a sloping surface which is inclined with respect to the second substrate and are provided on the second substrate in parallel with the first bus lines, and the third projecting structures have a sloping surface which is inclined with respect to at least one of the first and second substrate and are provided on at least one of the first and second substrates with an arrangement different from the first and second projecting structures. According to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the disclination by the structural alignment provided by the projecting structures, thereby enabling a stable alignment of the liquid crystals.
Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Aqueous coating compositions are described which comprise. (A) at least one cyclic hydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of cyclic polyhydroxy compounds and substituted phenols; PA1 (B) phosphate ions; PA1 (C) at least one oxidizer-accelerator; and PA1 (D) water.. The coating compositions also may contain fluoride ions and/or iron. A method of improving the corrosion resistance of iron, steel, and zinc-coated surfaces also is described, and the method comprises contacting the surfaces with an aqueous acidic coating composition as described above. The coated metal surfaces may be subsequently provided with an organic or inorganic top-coat or seal-coat resulting in improved corrosion resistance, adhesion and detergent resistance properties.

It is well known in the metal-finishing art that metal surfaces such as aluminum, ferrous and zinc surfaces may be provided with an inorganic phosphate coating by contacting the surfaces with an aqueous phosphating solution. The phosphate coating protects the metal surface to a limited extent against corrosion and serves primarily as a base for the later application of a siccative organic coating composition such as paint, lacquer, varnish, primer, synthetic resin, enamel, and the like. Procedures also have been described in the art for improving the rust-resistance of metal articles by the application of a film of paint over phosphated surfaces. Although the application of a siccative coating over a phosphated metal surface improves the corrosion resistance and adhesive properties of the metal to the topcoat, there continues to be a need to improve the corrosion resistance of and siccative organic coating adhesion to metal surfaces.
The inorganic phosphate coatings generally are formed on a metal surface by means of an aqueous solution which contains phosphate ion and, optionally, certain auxiliary ions including metallic ions such as iron, sodium, manganese, zinc, cadmium, copper, lead, calcium-zinc, cobalt, nickel, and antimony ions. These aqueous solutions also may contain non-metallic ions such as halide ions, nitrate ions, sulfate ions and borate ions. Recent advances in the pretreatment field have been limited to coatings derived from solutions containing a minimum of three metal cations such as zinc, cobalt, nickel, manganese, magnesium or calcium.
Although the adhesion of siccative organic coatings to a metal surface is improved by phosphate coatings, it has been noted, for example, where ferrous metal, galvanized ferrous metal or phosphated ferrous metal parts are provided with a siccative top-coat of lacquer or enamel and such top-coat is scratched or scored during, for example, handling, forming or assembling operations, the metal substrate becomes a focal point for corrosion and for a phenomenon known as "undercutting." Undercutting, or the loosening of the top-coat in areas adjacent to a scratch or score causes a progressive flaking of the top-coat from the affected area. In severe cases, the undercutting may extend an inch or more from each side of the scratch or score, causing a loosening and subsequent flaking of the top-coat from a substantial portion, if not all, of the metal article. The undercutting also results in a reduction of the desirable corrosion-resistance properties.
The use of inorganic phosphate coatings to prevent corrosion and improve the adhesion of paints to the metal surfaces requires, as noted above, coating solutions which contain heavy metals such as nickel, zinc, chrome, manganese, magnesium, calcium, tin, cobalt, etc. Thus, it would be desirable to treat metal surfaces to improve corrosion and paint adhesion wherein the coating applied to the metal surface does not contain such heavy metals.
Solutions containing tannins have been suggested for derusting and/or producing protective coatings on steel. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,368 describes a solution for forming protective coatings on metals which comprises 1 to 8 moles of phosphoric acid and at least one tannin material in a proportion of between 1 and 35% by weight based on the weight of the solution. U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,812 describes an aqueous metal-treating solution which comprises the condensation reaction product of a vegetable tannin, an aldehyde and an amine. The solution is reported to improve the corrosion-resistance of metals which have been treated with the composition. U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,710 describes a coating composition for ferrous metal surfaces which comprises a dilute aqueous crude extract of red cedar wood containing plicatic acid and the cedar polyphenols. When such solutions are applied to ferrous metals, a coating is deposited which imparts corrosion-resistance to the ferrous metal and also enhances the adhesion between the metal surface and a paint subsequently applied thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,214 describes a tannin containing post-treatment composition for use over zinc phosphate conversion coatings on metallic surfaces to provide an improved base for paint, lacquer, varnishes, etc. The tannin-containing solutions described in this patent are aqueous chromium-free solutions consisting essentially of a vegetable tannin in a concentration of 0.1 to 10 g/l and having a pH of less than 6, preferably between 3 and 6.

Aqueous coating compositions and coated metal surfaces


A method and apparatus of managing a multi-channel direct memory access (DMA) operation in which descriptors of data buffers are stored in a circular descriptor queue. The descriptors of those data buffers that are currently available for use in a DMA transfer are maintained in contiguous locations in the descriptor queue. The location of the first available descriptor and the number of currently available descriptors in the descriptor queue are provided to a network controller. Based on this information, the network controller then obtains a set of available descriptors and fills the corresponding buffers with data as it arrives on the different channels. When the use of a data buffer in a DMA transfer is complete, the descriptor for this buffer is made available again in the descriptor queue by re-filling this descriptor immediately following the available descriptors. No matter in which order the individual channels of the multi-channel system use and return the data buffers, the available descriptors are maintained in contiguous locations in the descriptor queue, increasing the efficiency of the system since searching through the descriptor queue for available descriptors is not required.

In computer systems, electronic chips and other components are connected with one another by buses. A variety of components can be connected to the bus, providing intercommunication between all of the devices that are connected to the bus. One type of bus which has gained wide industry acceptance is the industry standard architecture (ISA) bus. The ISA bus has twenty-four (24) memory address lines which therefore provides support for up to sixteen (16) megabytes of memory. The wide acceptance of the ISA bus has resulted in a very large percentage of devices being designed for use on the ISA bus. However, high input devices commonly used in computer systems require faster buses. A solution to the general problem of sending and receiving data from the processor to any high input device is a local bus. Unlike the ISA bus, which operates relatively slowly with limited bandwidth, a local bus communicates at system speed and carries data in 32-bit blocks. Local bus machines remove from the main system bus those interfaces that need quick response, such as memory, display, and disk drives. One such local bus that has gained wide acceptance in the industry is the peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus. The PCI bus can be a 32 or 64-bit pathway for high-speed data transfer. Essentially, the PCI bus is a parallel data path that replaces or is provided in addition to an ISA bus. The system processor and memory can be attached directly to the PCI bus, for example. Other devices such as graphic display adapters, disk controllers, sound cards, etc. can also attach directly or indirectly (e.g., through a host bridge) to the PCI bus.
In a digital computer, a microprocessor operates on data stored in a main memory. Since there are practical size limitations on the main memory, bulk memory storage devices are provided in addition to and separately from the main memory. When the microprocessor wants to make use of data stored in bulk storage, for example, a hard disk, the data is moved from the hard disk into the main memory. This movement of blocks of memory inside the computer is a very time consuming process and would severely hamper the performance of the computer system if the microprocessor were to control the memory transfers itself.
In order to relieve the microprocessor from the chore of controlling the movement of blocks of memory inside the computer, a direct memory access (DMA) controller is normally used. The DMA controller receives descriptor information from the microprocessor as to the base location from where bytes are to be moved, the address to where these bytes should go, and the number of bytes to move. Once it has been programmed by the microprocessor, the DMA controller oversees the transfer of the memory data within the computer system. Normally, DMA operations are used to move data between input/output (I/O) devices and memory.
Some of the efficiency of the PCI bus is due to the feature that the devices connected to the PCI bus can become DMA masters, and are not just slaves. Further, the PCI bus is a bursting bus, so that a single DMA transfer of data may be performed with one starting address followed by a large block of data. This bursting is more efficient than transferring data in individual small pieces, since the bus does not have to be constantly re-acquired for each piece of data.
Performing DMA transfers of data on a PCI bus in a multi-channel system, in which multiple sources transfer data to and from a host system over separate channels, is difficult to do efficiently. This is because it is hard to continue to do block transfers of data when multiple channels of data are attempting to use the bus. Obtaining and re-obtaining the bus for each of the separate channels as data comes in over the multiple channels reduces the efficiency of the bus, mitigating a significant advantage of the PCI bus.
Another complication created by a multi-channel system is that buffers may be returned in a different order than they were obtained. This is due to the fact that the channels will not typically complete their transfers at the same rate, so it is possible that a first data buffer obtained for a transfer on a first channel may not be returned for re-use before a second data buffer that was subsequently obtained for a transfer on a second channel that has a faster source of data. This presents a management problem in that the currently available data buffers (or descriptors for the buffers) need to be readily identifiable. Since the buffers are often returned out of order in a multi-channel system, the descriptors in a descriptor queue are normally marked to indicate whether the descriptors are available. The descriptor queue must then be searched whenever a transfer is to be performed to find currently available descriptors. This management overhead adds to the inefficiency of transfers.

System for managing direct memory access transfer in a multi-channel system using circular descriptor queue, descriptor FIFO, and receive status queue


The present invention relates to a top coat composition, which is characterized in that it is applied to a photoresist top surface by using a polymer containing at least one structure represented by the formula [1], [2] or [3]. It is possible to produce a top coat composition solution by dissolving this top coat composition in an organic solvent. These top coat composition and top coat composition solution can be used in immersion lithography.

The present invention relates to a photoresist top coat composition containing a particular fluorine-containing structure.
Fluorine-based compounds are developed or used in wide applied fields of advanced materials, due to characteristics such as water repellency, oil repellency, low water absorption, heat resistance, weatherability, corrosion resistance, transparency, photosensitivity, low refractive index, and low dielectric property. In particular, resist materials of fluorine-based compounds have recently and actively been studied as novel materials that are highly transparent to short wavelength ultraviolet rays such as F2 and ArF. A common molecular design in these applied fields is based on the achievement of various performances such as transparency at each used wavelength due to the introduction of fluorine, photosensitivity using acid characteristics of fluoroalcohols such as hexafluoroisopropanol (hexafluorocarbinol), adhesion to substrate, and high hardness, that is, glass transition point (Tg).
Recently, immersion lithography has rapidly emerged as a lithography for producing next-generation semiconductors. In particular, the entire business circle pays attention to it as a means for prolonging the lifetime of exposure technique by ArF excimer laser. In this case, liquid (e.g., water) is brought into contact with the photoresist surface. Therefore, how various problems, such as resist swelling, liquid penetration into the resist, and compound elution from the resist, are solved has become an important factor to improve the immersion lithography performance.
As a solving means, there is reported a process of coating the photoresist surface with a polymer protective film (see the following non-patent publication 1). For example, however, it becomes deficient in solubility in developing solution. Thus, it has not reached the level at which the material is optimized. This polymer protective film is a protective film to be coated on the photoresist film. Therefore, it is called a top coat or cover coat.
Non-patent publication 1: Mitsuru Sato, "TOK Resist & Material Development Status for Immersion Lithography", [online], SEMATECH, LITHO FORUM 28-29 JANUARY 2004 LOS ANGELS, Calif., [Searched on Mar. 29, 2004], Internet <http://www.sematech.org/resources/litho/meetings/forum/20040128/presentations/06—193_Sato_TOK.pdf>
There is a demand for a measure to form a top coat by coating a resist film with a coating film, of which both exposed portion and non-exposed portion are dissolved in a developing solution in a short period of time at similar rates, to intercept water from the resist film. In this case, there has been a demand for a polymer compound that simultaneously satisfies performances such as less swelling in water, no corrosion of the photoresist of the underlayer, and the capability of adjusting refractive index of the film.


A radiographic apparatus is disclosed, which allows a biopsy needle or a drug injection needle to be run into a patient accurately and quickly. Once a needle entry point on a body surface of the patient and a target point in the patient are designated and inputted on the screen of a display monitor, the radiographic apparatus in this invention automatically displays, en block on the display monitor, a guideline linking the two points, intersection marks indicative of intersections of the guideline and CT images, and angles and length serving as a reference for determining a direction and depth of running the needle. The operator has only to run the needle to a required depth along the guideline and intersection marks in the direction indicated by the angles displayed. Thus, the biopsy needle or injection needle may be run into the patient accurately and quickly.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a radiographic apparatuses such as an X-ray CT apparatus or MRI apparatus for use in thrusting a biopsy needle into a patient to remove a tissue from the patient for biopsy, or an injection needle into a patient to inject an anti-cancer drug or compound into a diseased part of the patient. More particularly, the invention relates to a technique of predicting a running path of a biopsy needle or injection needle (which may be called collectively hereinafter xe2x80x9cthrust needlexe2x80x9d).
(2) Description of the Related Art
In examining and treating cancer at medical institutions, a thrust needle is run into the patient""s body to remove a tissue for biopsy or inject an anti-cancer drug or compound into a diseased part. In one conventional method, for example, a thrust needle is run into the patient while monitoring running conditions of the needle by means of fluoroscopy provided by an X-ray CT apparatus. This practice will be described hereinafter, taking a biopsy needle for example.
In this method, as shown in FIG. 1, a fan beam FB is emitted from an X-ray tube (not shown) to a cross section (slice plane) D1 including a needle entry point A of a patient M lying on a top board 50. An X-ray detector (not shown) outputs X-ray detection data for providing a sectional image P1 of slice plane D1 which is displayed in real time on the screen of a display monitor 51 as shown in FIG. 2A, Then, a biopsy needle K is put to the needle entry point on the body of patient M. The operator, while looking at the screen of display monitor 51 to rely on what is seen thereon, gradually advances the biopsy needle K toward a tissue collection point B. At the same time, the top board 50 is moved for a fan beam FB to irradiate successively from the slice plane D1 including the needle entry point A to a slice plane Dn including the tissue collection point (goal) B.
As a result, different sectional images are successively displayed on the screen of display monitor 51. As shown in FIG. 2B, the point Ka of biopsy needle K appears with a sectional image Pm on the screen of display monitor 51. This enables the operator to continue advancing the biopsy needle K while constantly monitoring running conditions of the biopsy needle K on the screen of display monitor 51.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 2C, the point Ka of biopsy needle K reaches the tissue collection point B in a sectional image Pn of slice plane Dn of the patient M. Upon confirmation of this position of biopsy needle K, the needle running operation per se is completed.
However, where a conventional X-ray CT apparatus or the like is used in running a biopsy needle into a patient, it is difficult to secure an accurate running path of the biopsy needle. Moreover, the conventional practice of running the biopsy needle has a drawback of taking a very long time.
In running the biopsy needle K, the operator predicts a running path of biopsy needle K by observing only sectional images of slice planes of the patient M. It is difficult to predict a running path of biopsy needle K accurately by relying only on the sectional images of slice planes of the patient M. An inaccurate prediction of a running path of biopsy needle K will fail to secure an accurate running path of biopsy needle K.
In addition, between the needle entry point A and tissue collection point B, there may be vulnerable organs which must not be penetrated by the needle, or hard bones impenetrable by the needle. The operator has to run the biopsy needle K clear of such vulnerable organs and hard bones in a manner of trial and error relying on visual observation. This needle running operation consumes a long time.
This invention has been made having regard to the state of the art noted above, and its object is to provide a radiographic apparatus for enabling a thrust needle to be run through an accurate running path in an expeditious way.
The above object is fulfilled, according to this invention, by a radiographic apparatus for shifting slice planes imaged of a patient and displaying sectional images of the slice planes in real time on a display monitor in response to running of a thrust needle into the patient, in order to assist in running the thrust needle from a body surface of the patient to a target point in the patient, the apparatus comprising a screen input device for designating and inputting a needle entry point on the body surface of the patient and the target point in the patient, on a screen of a display monitor displaying the sectional images, and a guideline computing and displaying unit for computing a line segment linking the needle entry point and the target point, and displaying the line segment as a guideline superposed on the sectional images for guiding the thrust needle.
According to this invention, when running a thrust needle into a patient, sectional images including a needle input point on a body surface of the patient and a target point in the patient are displayed on the display monitor, and the screen input device is operated to designate and input the needle input point and target point on the screen. Then, the guideline computing and displaying unit immediately computes a line segment linking the needle input point and target point. The line segment computed is automatically displayed as a guideline superposed on the sectional images. Based on the guideline displayed as superposed on the sectional images on the screen of the display monitor, the operator may immediately determine whether a needle running path is appropriate or not. When the running path is found appropriate, the operator has only to run the thrust needle along the guideline. That is, with the apparatus according to this invention, the guideline serves as a reference for running the thrust needle, whereby a needle running operation may be carried out accurately and quickly. When the running path is found inappropriate, a needle entry point or a target point is designated all over again to compute and display a new guideline.
Preferably, the radiographic apparatus according to this invention further comprises an intersection computing and displaying unit for successively computing intersections of the slice planes and the guideline in response to shifting of the slice planes, and displaying intersection marks indicative of the intersections as superposed on the sectional images. When the thrust needle correctly runs along the guideline, the needle point never fails to meet the intersections computed. Thus, the operator has only to run the thrust needle in a way that the needle point coincides with the intersection marks representing the intersections computed. That is, the intersection marks representing the intersections serve as a reference for guiding the needle point to an exact position, whereby a needle running operation may be carried out accurately and quickly.
Preferably, the radiographic apparatus according to this invention further comprises a slice width range computing and displaying unit for successively computing slice width ranges each extending between opposite ends of a portion of the guideline present within a slice thickness across each of the slice planes in response to shifting of the slice planes, and displaying the slice width ranges of the guideline as superposed on the sectional images. With this construction, the operator runs the thrust needle to move the needle point precisely from the starting end to the finishing end of each slice width range of the guideline. That is, each sectional image on which the guideline is superposed includes data within its slice thickness combined and, so to speak, compressed thereinto. The thrust needle, strictly speaking, is run along the guideline just by an amount equal to the slice thickness. Thus, when the operator correctly runs the thrust needle based on each sectional image, the needle point moves precisely from the starting end to the finishing end of each slice width range of the guideline. Thus, the slice width range of the guideline superposed on each sectional image serves as a reference for guiding the needle point throughout the slice thickness to an exact position.

Radiographic apparatus and method for monitoring the path of a thrust needle


A printer includes: a conveyor that performs a forward-conveyance operation for conveying a printing medium downstream in a conveying direction and a backward-conveyance operation for conveying the printing medium upstream in the conveying direction; a printing device; a roller provided downstream of the conveyor in the conveying direction; an opposed member opposed to the roller; a moving mechanism that moves a moving member, which is one of the roller and the opposed member, between (i) a first position at which the printing medium is nipped between the moving member and the other of the roller and the opposed member and (ii) a second position at which the moving member is separated from the printing medium; and a controller that executes a first conveyor-backward-conveyance processing for controlling the conveyor to perform the backward-conveyance operation in a state in which the moving member is located at the second position.

The following disclosure relates to a printer.
There are known printers configured to perform printing on a printing medium being conveyed. For example, there is known a recording apparatus configured to control a conveying device to convey a sheet, and control a recording head to perform printing on the sheet being conveyed. A first roller and a second roller are provided downstream of the recording head in a conveying direction in which the sheet is conveyed. The recording apparatus conveys the sheet in a state in which the sheet is nipped between the first roller and the second roller.

Printer capable of performing backward conveyance


An exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion machine, in particular a diesel engine, having an unburnt mixture supply device, includes at least one compressor; at least one exhaust gas turbine; a turbocharger shaft by which the compressor and the exhaust gas turbine are rotationally fixedly coupled; and an energy store for increasing a mass moment of inertia. The energy store is rotationally fixedly coupled to the at least one compressor and the at least one exhaust gas turbine by the turbocharger shaft. An arrangement for supplying unburnt gas to an internal combustion machine includes such an exhaust gas turbocharger and an unburnt gas supply device.

The invention relates to an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine having a fresh gas supply device. The invention also relates to a corresponding arrangement for supplying fresh gas to an internal combustion engine.
Internal combustion engines, e.g. diesel engines, are often fitted with exhaust gas turbochargers. FIG. 1 shows a prior-art internal combustion engine 1, the exhaust gas line 6 of which is connected to an exhaust gas turbine 12 of an exhaust gas turbocharger 10. This exhaust gas turbine 12 drives a compressor 11 of the exhaust gas turbocharger 10, with the exhaust gas turbine 12 and the compressor 11 here being coupled by a turbocharger shaft 13. The compressor 11 compresses intake air from a fresh gas inlet 2 and thus increases an intake pressure in an intake line 5 of the internal combustion engine 1. An acceleration behavior, for example, of a vehicle (not shown) fitted with the internal combustion engine 1 is thereby improved. Moreover, a reduction in fuel consumption is achieved.
Compressor rotors of exhaust gas turbochargers in internal combustion engines are produced from aluminum or aluminum alloys or from titanium or titanium alloys. The reason for this is their low density and hence their low mass moment of inertia. This favors rapid acceleration of the turbocharger and hence reduces "turbo lag". This turbo lag arises in internal combustion engines with exhaust gas turbochargers because, during an acceleration process, the exhaust gas mass flow from the internal combustion engine 1 through the exhaust gas turbine 12 must accelerate the compressor 11 of the exhaust gas turbocharger 10 to enable it to build up its full boost pressure. The time before the maximum boost pressure is reached depends decisively on the inertia of the rotors (of the exhaust gas turbine 12 and of the compressor 11). The lower the mass moment of inertia, the greater is the reduction in the turbocharger speed during a shift operation or gear change (especially in the case of manual transmissions and automated shift transmissions). The result is that, after clutch engagement, the exhaust gas turbocharger 10 must first of all be reaccelerated to the required speed, which corresponds to the engine speed at that time.
Solutions have been proposed to enable this turbo lag to be overcome, wherein compressed air sourced, for example, from a compressed air reservoir 8 fed by an air compressor 9 is introduced in a controlled manner into the intake line 5 of the internal combustion engine 1 in order to cover an increased intake air requirement of the internal combustion engine 1 when this occurs. This is accomplished by use of a fresh gas (unburnt gas) supply device 4, which is arranged between the compressor 11 of the turbocharger 10, or a charge air cooler 3 fitted downstream in the direction of flow, and the intake line 5.
WO 2006/089779 A1 describes a device for supplying fresh air to a turbocharged piston-type internal combustion engine and a method for operating the same.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved exhaust gas turbocharger.
This and other objects are achieved by an exhaust gas turbocharger having for an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, having a fresh gas supply device. The exhaust gas turbocharger comprises wherein the exhaust gas turbocharger comprises at least one compressor; at least one exhaust gas turbine; a turbocharger shaft, by which the at least one compressor and the at least one exhaust gas turbine are coupled for conjoint rotation; and an energy storage device for increasing a mass moment of inertia, wherein the energy storage device is coupled to the at least one compressor and the at least one exhaust gas turbine for conjoint rotation by way of the turbocharger shaft.
One aspect of the invention consists in fitting the exhaust gas turbocharger with an energy storage device, which increases a mass moment of inertia of the exhaust gas turbocharger.
In contrast to the fact that an increase in the inertia of the exhaust gas turbocharger, i.e. of the rotating components, leads to a significant increase in "turbo lag", a combination in an arrangement of an exhaust gas turbocharger and a fresh gas supply device has the advantage that the exhaust gas turbocharger is synchronized with the existing engine speed after a gear change to such an extent that there is no need to accelerate the exhaust gas turbocharger to a turbocharger speed required for the existing engine speed in order to obtain an associated boost pressure.
Another advantage is that the compressed air consumption of the fresh gas supply device is reduced since acceleration of the exhaust gas turbocharger after a gear change is eliminated.
For this purpose, the energy storage device has a rotating mass. It can be designed as a kind of flywheel mounted on the turbocharger shaft for conjoint rotation. This rotating mass can also be at least partially integrated into the turbocharger shaft, thereby reducing the number of parts.
The rotating mass of the energy storage device may be distributed in such a way that it is integrated at least partially into rotating parts of the at least one compressor and/or of the at least one exhaust gas turbine. This is possible, for example, if the rotors of the compressor and/or the exhaust gas turbine are produced from steel.
In a preferred embodiment, the rotating mass of the energy storage device can be specified for a predetermined retardation of the speed of the exhaust gas turbocharger, thereby reducing the compressed air consumption of the fresh gas supply device. At the same time, the efficiency of the internal combustion engine is increased.
Moreover, a reduction in compressed air consumption avoids adaptation of an air compressor of the compressed air system for the additional air or of an air drying system since, by virtue of the energy storage device, there is no extra increase in the requirement for additional air that would necessitate adaptation.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine having a fresh gas supply device and a corresponding arrangement

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


Apparatus and methods are disclosed for maturing a biopolymer tissue construct in vitro prior to use as a replacement construct in vivo as, for example, a graft, implant, or prosthesis. The tissue is seeded with specific cells, exposed to a maturation fluid, such as a synovial-like fluid containing hyaluronic acid, and subjected to selected conditioning and maturation forces, which can include frictional forces, shear forces, and compressive pressure. The tissue is mounted on a first support element and a second surface applies a selected force to the tissue. This maturation process occurs within a maturation chamber. The resultant matured replacement tissue construct is intended to provide a replacement tissue that is more readily integrable in vivo to produce a more durable and functional replacement tissue.

This application relates to the preparation of grafts, implants, prostheses or other tissue constructs, typically for use as replacements for damaged or diseased bodily tissue. More particularly, this application relates to the maturation, or conditioning, of biopolymer tissue constructs prior to implantation of the construct in the body.
Tissue constructs are often used as grafts, implants or prostheses to replace diseased or damaged bodily tissue. Tissue needing replacement can include, for example, cartilage, tendon and ligament tissue. A fully functional replacement tissue should withstand at least the stresses and strains imposed by normal bodily activity on the type of tissue the construct is to replace. Furthermore, the construct should be biocompatible and integrable, in vivo, i.e., the construct should resemble a natural tissue so as to attract and interact with specific cells present in the body. The attracted cells further organize the construct and secrete specific biosynthetic products, such as extracellular matrix proteins and/or growth factors, that bind to the replacement construct, enabling it to degrade, remodel and regenerate as a fully functional replacement tissue. Such integration strengthens and conditions the construct to better perform as a replacement tissue.
Synthetic materials such as polyester fibers (Dacron.TM.) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Teflon.TM.) have been used extensively as replacements for bodily tissue, with some success. However, due to the poor biocompatibility of such synthetic materials, they often initiate persistent inflammatory reactions. Additionally, they do not readily breakdown and are not readily integrated with the body via remodeling by tissue cells.
It is also known to fabricate replacement constructs from structural biopolymer matrix components, such as collagen, that are extracted, purified and combined with specialized cells. The cells can organize, condense, and otherwise interact with the matrix proteins to create a tissue-like construct that can more closely resemble a natural tissue, and hence more readily integrate with the body than implants, grafts or prostheses based on synthetic materials. However, available biopolymer implants do not always have, or develop in vivo, the matrix complexity characteristic of the tissue they are to replace so as to become fully-functional replacements.
Therefore, there is a need for improved replacement tissue constructs that are stronger and more readily integrable with the bodily environment.
Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus for producing improved replacement tissue constructs.
Another object of the invention is to provide replacement tissue constructs that are stronger and more capable of withstanding the stresses and strains imposed thereon by the rigors of bodily activity.
A further object of the invention is to provide prostheses, grafts and implants that are more readily accepted by and integrable with the natural bodily environment.
Another object of the invention is to provide prostheses, grafts and implants that more readily resemble the tissues they are intended to replace.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by one of ordinarily skill in the art from the following disclosure, including the drawings and the claims.
The invention will next be described in connection with various preferred embodiments. However, it should be clear that various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Methods and apparatus for the conditioning of cartilage replacement tissue


A mechanism is provided for establishing a trust relationship between two products. A resource device receives a registration request from an application device to access a resource on the resource device by an application and users of the application on the application device. The resource device sends a registration response using a redirection uniform resource identifier (URI) provided with the registration request, where the registration response includes an authorization code and a symmetric key in response to authenticating the registration request. The resource device receives an access token request that includes the symmetric key, verifiable authentication data, and the redirection URI. The resource device sends an access token to the application device in response to validating the access token request, where the access token allows for access to the resource on the resource device thereby establishing the trust relationship between the resource device and the application device.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for establishing a trust relationship between two independent products so that users of one product are authorized to use resources provided by the other product.
Computer systems often have various roles and relationships. For example, one computer system may operate as an email server, a web server, or a domain controller, while another computer system may operate as a client. Some computer systems may have authority to perform actions, such as authenticating other computer systems, not granted to other computer systems. One type of relationship is a trust relationship, in which a trustee establishes that a particular computer system is trusted to perform one or more actions.

Establishing a trust relationship between two product systems

International Business Machines Corporation