A holographic recording medium includes a transparent layer having a servo surface and a light incidence surface which face each other; a reflecting layer formed on the servo surface-side transparent layer; and a holographic recording layer formed on the light illuminating-side transparent layer. The transparent layer includes resin films laminated so that adjacent resin films differ in stretching direction by 90 degrees.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a holographic recording medium and a method of manufacturing the holographic recording medium.
2) Description of the Related Art
Recently, collinear holographic recording systems in reflection geometry have been proposed to solve disadvantages in the angular multiplexing in the transmission geometry (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-123949). An optical recording medium used for such systems includes a plastic substrate provided at least below a recording layer, and a reflecting layer on its rear surface. A recording beam and a reference beam are passed through a coaxial optical path and incident on the recording layer of the optical recording medium. An interference pattern is formed on this recording layer by interference of the recording beam incident on the recording layer with the reference beam transmitted by the substrate, reflected by the reflecting layer, and transmitted again by the plastic substrate below the recording layer. At the same time, an interference pattern is formed thereon by the interference of the reference beam incident on the recording layer with the recording beam transmitted by the recording layer and the plastic substrate below the recording layer, reflected by the reflecting layer, and transmitted again by the plastic substrate below the recording layer. Therefore, if the plastic substrate shows birefringent, rotary polarization occurs to each of the recording beam and the reference beam after each light is transmitted by the plastic substrate. As a result, a mismatching occurs between a plane of polarization of the recording beam and that of the reference beam, thereby disadvantageously reducing amplitudes of the interference patterns. The amplitude reduction of the interference patterns causes a reduction in a signal-to-noise ratio (SN ratio, a ratio of an intensity of the signal light to a noise) in recording.
Meanwhile, development of a low birefringent plastic substrate to be used in a currently available optical disk is underway. However, a birefringence of the low birefringent plastic is not low enough. Therefore, even if the low birefringent plastic substrate is used as the substrate of the holographic recording medium, the mismatching occurs again between the plane of polarization of the recording beam and that of the reference beam. As a result, the recorded light cannot be often reproduced and the SN ratio is reduced.

Holographic recording medium and holographic recording medium manufacturing method


A method of manufacturing a cork extracting device containing a supporting shaft and a coil-type screw and in which the supporting shaft and the screw are separately made and then connected together, which comprises providing a bottom end portion of the supporting shaft with a coupling portion having a coupling aperture disposed therein, providing a coiled screw with a screw coupling portion at the top end thereof, inserting a guiding tube into the coupling portion of the shaft, the guiding tube having a center hole which extends therethrough and branches at the end thereof as a hooking groove, inserting the screw coupling portion into the hole of the guiding tube and bending the end of the screw coupling portion to engage with the hooking groove.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved cork screw or cork extracting device having a bottle mouth supporter, and more particularly to a cork extracting device which is made such that a supporting shaft, which ascends, descends, and rotates within a bottle mouth supporter and a screw, are separately formed. The screw coupling portion at the top of the screw is inserted into a coupling portion formed at the bottom of a supporting shaft, and then the supporting shaft and the screw are assembled together to form an integral unit by either press-fixing both ends of the exterior of the coupling shaft to the screw or by sealing to fix the screw through the application of pressure using a knurling mesh at the exterior of the coupling portion. That is, a knurling tool is utilized to apply pressure to the knurling mesh for fixing the coupling portion of the supporting shaft to the screw coupling portion. When the screw is assembled the center axis of the supporting shaft and the center axis of the screw are in alignment. Also, the operating lever of the device can be coated with a synthetic resin so as to make the gripping of the operating lever more effective.
In conventional cork extracting devices having a bottle mouth supporter, since the screw is made by cutting and processing and the bottom end of supporting shaft with guide grooves and a handle is made by cutting and processing, it is difficult in these cutting steps to achieve a device in which the components thereof contain a common central axis. In fact in the prior art cork screws, the screw is frequently canted to one side of the cork screw, therefore making it difficult to effectively extract the cork from the bottle.
And, even when a coupling portion is made at the bottom end of the supporting shaft and a coil type screw is fixed by welding, there has been the problem of achieving an alignment of the axis of the shaft and the screw along a common, center axis during welding operation.
Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a cork extracting device which solves such problems.

Method of manufacturing a cork extracting device


A monkey wrench includes a handle, a head, stationary jaw, a movable jaw and a jaw-moving element. The head is formed at an end of the handle and made with a side, a groove in the side and an opening in communication with the groove. The stationary jaw is formed on the head and made with a first nut-contacting face, a second nut-contacting face next to the first nut-contacting face, a bulge on the first nut-contacting face and a recess next to the bulge. The movable jaw is movably disposed in the groove and formed with a nut-contacting face and a bulge on the nut-contacting face thereof. The jaw-moving element is disposed in the opening and engaged with the movable jaw so that the jaw-moving element is operable to move the movable jaw relative to the stationary jaw.

An open-end or monkey wrench includes two jaws for contact with two facets of a nut so that the nut can be driven with the wrench. The corners of the nut might however be chamfered due to forces exerted thereon when the wrench is used improperly. In an attempt to solve this problem, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,132, a monkey wrench is provided with two jaws for contact with the middle points of two of the facets of a nut. The corners might nevertheless be chamfered with the monkey wrench.
Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.


The invention relates to yeast strains in which a human GLUT4 transport or a human GLUT1 transporter can be functionally expressed and to particular GLUT4 transport proteins which can be functionally expressed particularly readily in yeast strains.

Most heterotropic cells transport glucose via special transporter proteins into the cell interior. The various organisms have developed different mechanisms mediating the transporting of glucose, such as, in particular, proton symport systems, Na+ glucose transporters, binding protein-dependent systems, phosphotransferase systems, and systems for facilitated diffusion. In the eukaryotes, a family of glucose transporters which are encoded in mammals by the GLUT genes (GLUT=glucose transporter) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the HXT genes (HXT=hexose transporter) mediates glucose uptake via facilitated diffusion. Said transporters belong to a larger family of sugar transporters. They are characterized by the presence of 12 transmembrane helices and by a plurality of conserved amino acid radicals. Glucose transport plays an important part in disorders associated with a defective glucose homeostasis, such as, for example, diabetes mellitus or Fanconi-Bickel syndrome. The glucose transport in mammals has therefore been the subject of numerous studies. To date, thirteen glucose transporter-like proteins have been identified (GLUT1 to GLUT12, HMIT—H-myo-inositol transporter)). Said transporters play key parts which include the uptake of glucose into various tissues, its storage in the liver, its insulin-dependent uptake into muscle cells and adipocytes and glucose measurement by the β cells of the pancreas.
GLUT1 mediates the transport of glucose into erythrocytes and through the blood-brain barrier, but is also expressed in many other tissues, while GLUT4 is limited to insulin-dependent tissues, primarily to muscle and fatty tissue. In said insulin-dependent tissues, controlling the targeting of GLUT4 transporters through intracellular compartments or plasma membrane compartments represents an important mechanism for regulating glucose uptake. In the presence of insulin, intracellular GLUT 4 is redistributed through the plasma membrane in order to facilitate glucose uptake. GLUT1 is likewise expressed in said insulin-dependent tissues, and its distribution in the cell is likewise influenced by insulin, albeit not as strongly. In addition, the relative efficacy with which GLUT1 or GLUT4 catalyze sugar transport is determined not only by the extent of the targeting of each transporter to the cell surface but also by their kinetic properties.
The fact that different glucose transporter isoforms are coexpressed and the rapid glucose metabolism have rendered studies on the role and the exact properties of each glucose transporter isoform in these insulin-dependent tissues complicated. In order to solve these problems, heterologous expression systems such as Xenopus oocytes, tissue culture cells, insect cells and yeast cells have been used. However, it turned out that a number of difficulties appeared in connection with these systems: too weak an activity of the heterologously expressed transporters, intrinsic glucose transporters in said systems, intracellular retention of a considerable proportion of the transporters or even production of inactive transporters.
Naturally occurring GLUT4 protein of mammals, in particular that of humans, can be expressed in a functional manner in strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under particular conditions.
Yeast cells are unicell eukaryotic organisms. They are therefore, for some proteins, more suitable for expression than bacterial systems, in particular with regard to carrying out screen assays for identifying pharmaceutically active substances.
The present invention relates to a purified and isolated polynucleotide comprising a DNA sequence which codes for the GLUT4V85M protein.


Determining product marketability may be accomplished by electronically performing various calculations on related data. The marketability may be determined by a processing device receiving business characteristic terms, industry sub-segment terms and validation terms for each business characteristic term of each industry sub-segment. The processing device calculates one or more criteria terms based on the validation terms and thereupon prioritizes the business characteristic terms based on the criteria data to define at least a first cluster of business characteristic terms. The processing device thereupon calculates a coverage percentage term for each of the industry sub-segment terms based on a comparison of the validation terms for each of the business characteristic terms and the validation terms for each business characteristic term in the first cluster. The coverage percentage term usable for determining product marketability.

The present invention relates generally to determining market predictability for one or more products and more specifically to calculating market predictability factors for determining underlying product development decisions.
In current operations, decisions made relating to product development is based on a wide variety of factors. One common approach is solving a need for a particular market. Product development relating to a market need is typically dictated by customer feedback or a recognition of missing solutions in the marketplace.
As the complexity of some products continues to increase, so does the inherent cost associated with developing a product. Costs are also associated in developing prototypes or commonly called "beta" versions with which a product may be tested. It is often beneficial to have a realistic understanding of the marketability of a product as early in the decision process as possible, especially in markets where profits can drive development and/or production decisions.
Certain areas of products are especially prone to high development or start-up costs. It can be extremely risky for a person or company to invest various resources, such as money and man-power, into a product that may end up having limited market value. One common product having significant development costs is software. Applications must be developed, typically by a team of software engineers. From a business perspective, just as important as the proper operation of the software is the marketability of the underlying software.
This issue is especially true in the example of software with enterprise applications. These enterprise applications provide a general framework for performing numerous operations, but are often specialized to a particular industry. As different industries include different requirements, it can be expensive to develop industry specific applications without a clear understanding of the market to which the software is applicable.
Current techniques for determining potential marketability for a particular product involve business calculations. These calculations may include empirical industry specific data. From this data, business calculations may be made generally estimating a products marketability. For example, a simple calculation may be estimating the total number of customers in an industry with a percentage factoring the number of customers to whom the company can expect to sell its product. Taking that portion of the industry, the company performs further calculations to determine a price point estimating the projected cost of the product. Based on this price point and estimate sales volume, an income amount may be projected.
This current technique is extremely subjective and can be prone to calculation errors. For example, the definition of a particular industry may be in error or there may be a miscalculation of the potential number of future customers. Additionally, this technique is predicated on a selected market and then a corresponding determination for that market. Therefore, should a person wish to compare a large number of potential markets, that would require not only the calculations for each market, but the significant research required to obtain accurate values for each market-based calculation.
Therefore, the current techniques for determining a product's marketability require a per-market determination. These determinations require extensive amounts of data collection for each calculation and may be potentially subject to problems associated with incorrect data. As such, when product development is determined based in part on the marketability of that product, development may be hindered by the currently complex and imprecise market data estimations.

Method and apparatus for determining the product marketability utilizing a percent coverage


Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are provided to facilitate content receiver control for particularized output of content items based on intra-content metrics. Observation data, corresponding to indications of detected content receiver operations associated with a content receiver and mapped to a first set of content items, may be processed. A first set of intra-content metrics may be detected. An audiovisual pattern of intra-content metrics may be mapped based on correlating the set of observation data with the first set of intra-content metrics. A second set of content items may be processed to detect a second set of intra-content metrics. A subset of the second set of content items may be selected based on a visual category and/or an audio category of the audiovisual pattern of intra-content metrics. The subset may be specified to cause a content receiver to modify operations to record and/or output content corresponding to the subset.

This disclosure generally relates to content discovery and distribution, and more particularly to systems and methods for facilitating content receiver control based on intra-content metrics and viewing pattern detection.
Users of televisions and other video distribution platforms are now exposed to more varying types of content than ever before. In addition to live broadcasts of content and local recordings of content (e.g., using a digital video recorder), content may be accessible from various sources via a network (e.g., the Internet). However, with the proliferation of different content, a viewer can encounter a number of difficulties. Chief among the difficulties is the amount of time and effort necessary to search for particular programs of interest. The options can be overwhelming to many users and can make process of locating content difficult and inefficient.
Thus, there is a need for systems and methods that address the foregoing problems in order to provide viewers with better, more tailored viewer experiences. This and other needs are addressed by the present disclosure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Content receiver control based on intra-content metrics and viewing pattern detection


A mobile temperature controlled container having an air conditioning unit that has an indoor section and an outdoor section. The indoor section includes a housing having a rectangular shaped frame, the front face of which is secured to one wall of the container and a rear wall that is secured to the back of the frame. The rear wall is molded of a suitable plastic and contains a blower wheel compartment and a heat exchanger compartment containing a heat exchanger coil. Both compartments open into the frame and a generous flow path area is provided in the top section of the heat exchanger compartment over the coil so that return air from the container that is drawn into housing can move freely into the blower wheel compartment. The blower wheel compartment is enclosed by a cover having an air inlet opening adjacent the blower wheel and further includes a discharge nozzle that exhausts into the container.

This invention relates to a mobile container and, in particular, to an air conditioning unit for controlling the temperature within the container.
Mobile temperature controlled containers are used to transport a wide variety of perishable or heat sensitive goods. The containers are serviced by air conditioning units that are capable of supplying heated or cooled air to the container needed to preserve the cargo that is in transit. The air conditioning systems employed in association with a mobile container are typically split into an outdoor section that is exposed to ambient air and an indoor section that houses the equipment for conditioning return air drawn from the container and returning the conditioned air to the container. Because of space constraints that are placed upon this type of air conditioning system, efficient movement of air throughout the indoor section of the air conditioning system is difficult to attain. This, in turn, results in an increase in air pressure resistance on the outdoor side of the system with a corresponding increase in power consumption. In addition, the indoor section of many air conditioning units for cooling or heating mobile containers are contained in housings having a relatively high thermal conductivity whereby heat can pass into and out of the housing at a relative high rate placing an additional burden on the air conditioning unit.
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to improve air conditioning units for use in mobile containers for transporting perishable goods.
It is another object of the present invention to reduce the air pressure resistance on the outdoor side of an air conditioning system of a mobile container.
It is a still further object of the present invention to improve air management on the indoor side of an air conditioning system of a mobile container.
Yet another object of the present invention is to minimize the transfer of heat into and out of the indoor section of an air conditioning system used in a mobile temperature controlled container.
Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption of an air conditioning system of a mobile temperature controlled container.
These and other objects of the current invention are attained in a mobile temperature controlled container having an air conditioning unit consisting of an indoor section and an outdoor section. The indoor section of the unit further includes a rectangular frame having opposed side walls and a top wall and a bottom wall. The front of the frame is secured to one wall of the container and the back of the frame is closed for means of a molded rear wall that contains a blower wheel compartment and a heat exchanger compartment both of which open into the frame. The blower wheel compartment further includes a scroll-shaped section for housing a blower wheel and a discharge section into which the blower wheel discharges. The heat exchanger compartment is located beneath the blower compartment and has a lower section that houses a portion of the indoor heat exchanger coil and an upper section having a contoured rear wall for directing air drawn through the coil by the blower into the frame area. The blower compartment is closed by a cover containing an inlet located adjacent to the blower and which communicates with the interior of the frame. The cover also includes a nozzle that is positioned adjacent to the discharge section of the blower compartment and which passes into the container.


A plate brake tester for testing the adequacy of the brakes of a vehicle includes first and second pairs of weight bearing plates, each sized to receive at least one wheel/tire assembly of a vehicle as a vehicle is driven over the plates. The first pair of plates are spaced from the second pair a predetermined distance along a predetermined direction of travel, which predetermined distance is substantially greater than the length of each plate as measured along the predetermined direction of travel. Sensors sense, for each plate, the brake force applied by a brake associated with the wheel/tire assembly passing over that plate and the dynamic weight of the wheel/tire assembly on each plate during braking. Control circuitry determines from the brake force and the directly sensed dynamic weight the adequacy of the brakes of the vehicle under test. Preferably, the first and second pairs of plates are approximately 30 feet apart along a test lane, and each plate is approximately 36" in length and 48" in width. Signals are provided to signal an operator to drive a vehicle onto the test lane, and to apply the brakes at a predetermined point along the test lane. It is preferred that the vehicle is decelerating as each wheel/tire assembly passes over at least some of the plates.

This invention relates to brake testers for vehicles, and more particularly to plate brake testers particularly suited for testing the brakes of multi-axle vehicles.
Faulty or inadequate brakes are a significant cause of vehicle accidents. Moreover, the faulty condition of the brakes is often not apparent during routine use of the brakes. The operator of the vehicle is usually not aware, until it is too late, that the vehicle's brakes are deficient.
Furthermore, many brake defects are not readily apparent during a visual inspection of the brakes. Only a test simulating actual stopping conditions can detect many brake defects.
When the brakes of a vehicle are applied, a retarding force is generated between the tire and the surface on which the tire is riding. When this force becomes greater than the weight on that wheel multiplied by the coefficient of friction between the tire and the surface, the wheel will begin to lock up and stop rolling. The retarding force of a wheel just before lockup is greater than the retarding force of the same wheel just after lockup. In addition, a locked wheel loses its ability to maintain lateral forces, which makes handling very difficult.
Since the maximum usable force of a brake is related to the weight on that wheel, vehicle designers adjust the braking system so that the brake force distributions coincide with the vehicle weight distribution. When a vehicle is decelerating, the forces acting on the center of gravity of the vehicle cause a weight shift. The "dynamic weight" appearing on each wheel/tire assembly is, therefore, different from the "static weight" when the vehicle is at rest.
Apparatus for testing brake performance are available, but they could be improved. For example, the results of the brake test under actual stopping conditions can depend upon the make and model of the vehicle, the actual deceleration applied to the vehicle during the test, and the static and dynamic weight distribution of the vehicle during the test. Apparatus which would take into account all these factors have heretofore been considered too complicated or too slow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,456, assigned to the assignee of the present application, addresses many of these drawbacks, in part by estimating the dynamic weight distribution of the vehicle under test. Although this works extremely well for automobiles, it is less satisfactory for multi-axle vehicles such as tractor-trailer trucks where such estimation is more difficult and less accurate.
With respect to trucks, truck loading makes a significant difference in the apparent acceptability of brakes. A fully loaded truck responds very differently than a lightly loaded one. A test designed for fully loaded trucks can, therefore, fail to accurately indicate the actual condition of the brakes when the truck is tested during light load conditions.
Many of these difficulties are addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,636, also assigned to the assignee of the present application. However, even the apparatus disclosed in that patent could be improved. For example, with the '636 apparatus, testing of a five-axle vehicle requires multiple stops. If the testing procedure is performed correctly with that apparatus, the driver (operator) of a five-axle vehicle must make three stops and back up at least once. If a stop is missed or made incorrectly, additional backing up is required to repeat a test. Before a test is performed with the '636 apparatus, detailed drive instruction is required. Different drivers have different abilities and/or reaction times, so that this type of test can be difficult for some drivers. The disclosure of the '636 patent is hereby incorporated by reference.

Brake in motion plate brake tester and method


A method and apparatus for minimizing damage to an optical fiber used as part of a laser radiation delivery system are disclosed. The apparatus includes the use of a spacer positioned adjacent the tip of the fiber to minimize the impact on the fiber tip of debris and vapor generated by exposure of a tissue target to high energy radiation. The end of the apparatus is configured to vent debris and vapor from the end of the tip to reduce damage. The fiber tip may also be annealed to enhance its resistance to damage. The buffer material may also be stripped from the delivery end of the fiber so that the inner diameter of the outer support can be narrowed. An epoxy resin is injected into the space between the uncoated fiber and the support to stabilize the fiber and prevent it from bending. The delivery end of the fiber can also be enlarged to shield the remainder of the fiber from debris and vapor.

This application relates to a novel optical fiber laser delivery system and the method of using the same. Such delivery systems are now used for certain types of surgery, such as arthroscopic surgery.
Laser radiation is used in surgical applications where the cutting of tissue is desired, or where the target tissue, such as a tumor, is to be destroyed. In such systems, various types of laser radiation have been used i.e. both continuous wavelength and pulsed, the radiation being passed through an optical fiber, and to the fiber tip. To achieve better cutting efficiency, the fiber tip is placed immediately adjacent the tissue target.
We have found that high energy pulsed laser radiation provides an effective means for such tissue destruction. For example, we have found that very effective delivery of radiation occurs where energies of two joules over a pulse of 350 microseconds are delivered at a frequency of ten hertz.
While the use of high energy pulsed radiation is effective for the destruction of tissue, we have found that catastrophic damage to the tip of the optical fiber carrying such radiation likewise occurs in many cases. Clearly, such damage is costly from a reliability standpoint. More importantly, failure of the fiber tip during surgery could lead to the deposit of debris from the destroyed tip in the patient's body.
Tip breakdown results from a number of mechanisms. For example, there may be inherent structural weaknesses arising from manufacture, such as microcracks and polishing or cleaving defects. More importantly, when sufficient laser power is delivered through a fiber to various types of tissue in a water or other medium, cutting is achieved by rapid vaporization of the water contained in the material. The resultant unbalanced pressure produces high velocity fragments which abrade and erode the materials used in the delivery device. In particular, we have found that the stainless steel and the glass components of the end piece are eroded at moderate rates, while other softer materials such as adhesives used in the manufacture of the handpiece and the fiber buffer erode much more rapidly.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a contact optical fiber laser delivery system for surgery wherein the delivery system was designed to minimize damage to the fiber tip arising from exposure to the forces generated when the fiber is used to transmit high energy laser radiation to the surface of the tissue in question.
It is well known with respect to fiber optics that a bare glass fiber has a very much lower tensile strength than a fiber which has been coated by a plastic. (The plastic coating is often called a buffer or "cladding.") In one particular example, we found that 480 micrometer diameter bare fibers broke when wrapped around a 5 centimeter diameter mandrill, while the same fibers when protected by a silicone buffer could be wrapped around a 2 centimeter mandrill without breakage.
In many applications of the laser in medicine, it is desirable to transmit the laser through a bent fiber in order to reach otherwise inaccessible locations. In order to reduce breakage of the fiber, it is thus desirable to have a buffer on the bent fiber. However, as noted above, the buffer material is subject to relatively fast erosion. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a probe which can be bent but which is not subject to rapid erosion.


An adjustable leg rest assembly for use with a chair (such as a reclining chair) is described. The adjustable leg assembly supports a foot rest pad and is capable of alternating between a first position (where the foot rest pad is closer to the front of the reclining chair) and a second position (where the foot rest pad is farther away from the front of the chair) to adjust to the physical characteristics of a user of the chair. A pair of retractable scissor linkages supports the adjustable leg rest assembly. The scissor linkages are pivotally secured to the adjustable foot rest on one end thereof and are moveably secured to the chair on the other end thereof as is known in the art.

As is known in the art, the provision of a leg rest in combination with a reclining chair offers the user of the chair additional support for the legs of the user. The leg rest should be positioned so as to support the calves and feet of the user to provide maximum comfort and support. In many prior art reclining chairs the foot rest is not adjustable (i.e. the leg rest was static). While useful, such static leg rests have a significant disadvantage in that the leg rest cannot be adjusted to account for the different physical characteristics of a user. Such physical characteristics of a user include, but are not limited to, the height of the user and the leg length of a user.
It is common in the industry when such a static leg rest is used to position the leg rest in a fixed position such that is in an optimal placement to benefit a user with average physical characteristics. Such average physical characteristics can be determined from publicly available databases. However, certain average physical characteristics may differ depending on the gender of a user (for example, males tend to have a greater average height than females). For instance, if the static leg rest is position on the reclining chair to be in an optimal position for a person of average height, the leg rest will not be in an optimal position for a person whose height is greater than or less than the average height. In these cases, the foot rest is positioned so the calves and/or feet of the user are not supported correctly, making the foot rest less comfortable to the user.
A number of adjustable leg rests for use with reclining chairs have been known previously in the art. However, in many cases these adjustable leg rests are cumbersome to use and complicated to manufacture. In addition, the adjustable leg rests that are known in the art do not lend themselves to application to previously manufactured reclining chairs, requiring that the scissor linkage mechanisms be modified or replaced to be adapted to the adjustable leg rests.
The present disclosure provides an adjustable leg rest that meets the need of the art. The adjustable foot rest assembly supports a foot rest pad and is capable of moving between a first position (where the foot rest pad is closer to the front of the reclining chair) and a second position (where the foot rest pad is farther away from the front of the chair) to adjust to the physical characteristics of a user of the chair. The adjustable leg rest is easy to use and simply to manufacture. In addition, the adjustable leg rest of the present disclosure can be retrofitted to existing reclining chairs without replacing the existing scissor linkage mechanism.


A method and apparatus for separating optical fibers contained in a multiple-fiber cable is disclosed. The method has particular application for separating long cables, that is, of about ten centimeters or more, of the type having a king wire and a plurality of fibers concentrically arranged around the king wire and embedded in a matrix material. The method involves stringing the cable in a taut position and moving a separation mold between the fibers and along the length of the cable while applying heat to the cable.

In a typical multi-fiber optical cable, four or more optical fibers are arranged in a concentric array around a steel "king" wire and embedded in a polymeric matrix material (e.g., nylon). At times one may desire to separate the individual fibers from the cable. Traditionally, one common method of separating the fibers involves using a hot air gun to soften the nylon (or other matrix material) in which the fibers are embedded; the fibers are then withdrawn by separately pulling each fiber from the material. With this procedure, fiber breakage is a common occurrence, particularly when relatively long sections of cable are being separated, for example, cable sections of ten (10) centimeters or longer. The longer the optical cable, the greater the likelihood there is that the fibers will break when an attempt is made to separate them.
The instant invention is therefore addressed to providing an improved method of separating fiber optic cables from a polymeric matrix material that reduces the risk of breaking the fibers, while also increasing the speed of the method, and an apparatus for performing this method. The nature, advantages, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments described in detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for separating optical fibers in a multiple-fiber cable


The present invention concerns polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiations that are not reactive in the presence of anionic polymerization initiators. The presence of such cationic initiation functions allow an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after moulding, particularly in the form of a thin film. It is thus possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density. The polymers of the present invention are capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity for the preparation of solid electrolytes.

The present invention concerns polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiations that are not reactive in the presence of anionic polymerization initiators. The presence of such cationic initiation functions allow an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after moulding, particularly in the form of a thin film. It is thus possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density.
Three types of polymerization mechanisms are mainly known, i.e. anionic, cationic and radicalar. Generally, monomers bearing double bond-type functions conjugated or activated and allowing propagation of radicalar species are mostly used. It is however difficult to control the molecular weights of the polymer, especially because the radicals are inactivated by oxygen. Recently, monomers bearing vinyl ether-type functions CH2xe2x95x90CHOxe2x80x94 with a high cationic polymerization reactivity have been commercialized. Cationic polymerization, though very rapid, hardly leads to high molecular weights mainly because of the fact that the carbocations allowing the propagation of the polymerization are sensitive to water or other nucleophilic species present in the reaction medium.
The compositions mainly used for making films, varnishes or inks generally combine epoxide-type monomers with monomers bearing one or more vinyl ether functions, and are polymerized with cationic catalysts. Because the polymerization of epoxides and the polymerization of vinyl ethers are propagating at very different speeds, the macromolecular solids obtained are usually made of interpenetrated networks corresponding to each type of monomers. The polymerization degree and cross-linking density of such systems are thus hardly controllable. The mechanical properties are more dependent on the rigidity of the chains or the presence of OH functions providing strong hydrogen bonds. These compositions, particularly those to which glycol or triol vinyl diether are added, allow nevertheless the minimization of volatile solvent consumption because of the low viscosity of the corresponding monomers (so-called xe2x80x9creactive diluentsxe2x80x9d). In that respect, vinyl ethers have a low toxicity.
The xe2x80x9creactive diluentxe2x80x9d notion is also used with monomer mixtures of the acrylic type (radicalar) with monomers of the vinyl ether type, in the presence of radical initiators added to cationic initiators. It is however as difficult with this procedure to ensure a regular control of the polymerization/cross-linking rate because of the radical polymerization sensitivity to oxygen. This problem is particularly true for thin films with a major portion of their surface in contact with air. Polyfunctional monomers containing a vinyl ether function have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,941. These compounds are used to obtain cross-linked resins having a high glassy transition temperature through a single step process using interpenetrated networks of the (cationic+cationic) or (cationic+radical) type.
Anionic polymerization has various advantages in terms of the accurate control of the molecular weight, particularly for a narrow distribution of the weights Mw/Mn. This is the method of choice to prepare polymers with a predetermined weight and elaboration of bloc polymers of the type AB, ABA, or branched. However, the initiators and the anionic species allowing the propagation are highly reactive. These species are either organometallics or alkaline metal alkoxides that react with most organic functions borne by the monomers, particularly those that would allow easy cross-linking later, such as functions containing epoxides, alcohols or amines, or double bonds activated with one or more conjugated double bonds, and aromatic nucleus or an electron attracting group like Cxe2x95x90O, Cxe2x89xa1N. The water or other nucleophile exclusions conditions during the polymerization cause the polymer to be prepared in dedicated units, rather than at the time of use or moulding.
Also known are polymers having ether functions in high concentration, generally between 40 and 100% molar, particularly containing units xe2x80x94[(CH2H(R)O]nxe2x80x94 wherein 4xe2x89xa6nxe2x89xa62xc3x97104 and R is H or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a polymerizable group such as the allyloxy-methyl group. The copolymers, in particular those wherein R is mainly H, possess the property of dissolving certain salts, metallic or onium (ammonium, amidinium, guanidinium) to form conductive solid solutions. Lithium salts are particularly useful to form electrolytes that can be used in primary or secondary batteries, supercapacities, or light modulation systems, also called xe2x80x9celectrochromicxe2x80x9d. The environment in which these materials work, in particular in contact with highly reductive elements, such as metallic lithium, alloys thereof or solid solutions thereof in the various forms of carbon, like graphite or cokes, requires an increased stability of the bonds of the polymer, that are mainly limited to CH and Cxe2x80x94O bonds of the ether functions. Because of the low intrinsic conductivity of these materials, they are embodied in thin films having nevertheless good mechanical behaviour. This is obtained either by using high molecular weights, or more conveniently, through a cross-linking, process. The latter method, however, has the disadvantage of increasing the glassy transition temperature (Tg) of the network, which is the most important parameter to determine the conductivity. Further, the allyloxymethyl functions introducing the functions allowing the cross-linking, in particular with the monomer allyl-glycidyl ether (AGE), that are resistant to the action of catalysts for the anionic polymerization, are not very active for the later formation of cross-linking knots, and it is impossible to control exactly the cross-linking density of the materials containing this monomer. It is difficult to implicate more that 50% of the double bonds during the cross-linking.
Polymers obtained from oligo(ethylene oxide) vinyl ethers have been proposed as solid electrolytes, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,886,716, 5,064,548, 5,173,205, 5,264,307, 5,411,819 and 5,501,920, and possess acceptable conductive properties. The preparation of the corresponding monomers is however delicate. These materials, before cross-linking, have a low molecular weight, as for most of cationic polymerizations. Indeed, the monomers are highly hygroscopic, and thus difficult to purify. In addition, the mechanical properties of the polymers are poor because of the absence of entanglement, a phenomenon typical to polymers with lateral chains. By using polyfunctional monomers of the vinyl diether-type, it is possible to obtain cross-linked products, but it is however impossible to separate the polymerization step from the cationic cross-linking process, and as a result, there is substantially no control of the process for obtaining the cross-linked polymer.
In accordance with the present invention, there is now provided a cross-linkable polymer obtained by anionic polymerization initiation followed by cationic cross-linking, the polymer being of general formula:
(A)nQ(Y)p
wherein
Q represents a bond, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94, or an organic radical of n+p valence non reactive towards reagents initiating anionic or cationic polymerization, of the type alkyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl optionally comprising oxa or aza substituents, and comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms;
A represents a radical reactive in anionic polymerization;
Y represents a radical reactive in cationic polymerization and non-reactive toward agents initiating anionic polymerization;
n varies between 1 and 3; and
p varies between 1 and 6.
In a preferred embodiment, A comprises
wherein
Z represents O or CH2;
R represents H, an alkyl or oxa-alkyl radical of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, CN or
CH2COOR1 wherein R1 is H or an alkyl or oxa-alkyl radical of 1 to 12 carbon atoms;
Rxe2x80x2 represents H or an alkyl radical of 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and
r varies between 1 and 6.
The polymers of the present invention are capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity, for the preparation of solid electrolytes.
The present invention relates to polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiation and allowing an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after moulding, particularly in the form of a thin film. The functions active in cationic polymerization are thus chosen for their stability towards reagents allowing the anionic polymerization. It is therefore possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density, by taking advantage of the cumulated benefits of both types of polymerization. The cross-linking is performed efficiently, and totally independently in particular of the action of oxygen.
Also part of the present invention and representing an important aspect thereof, are the polymers obtained by anionic polymerisation and cross-linked cationically, capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity for the preparation of solid electrolytes. As mentioned above, the necessity of being capable of introducing functions allowing the cross-linking without compromising the chemical or electrochemical stability of the system and without a noticeable increase of the glassy transition temperature, is critical. The polymers of the invention meet these criteria because of the selection of the active groups for the cationic polymerization that allow an efficient and controlled cross-linking.
The monomers used for obtaining the polymer according to the invention are defined by the general formula:
(A)nQ(Y)p
wherein
Q represents a bond, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94, or an organic radical of n+p valence non reactive towards reagents initiating anionic or cationic polymerization, of the type alkyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl optionally comprising oxa or aza substituents, and comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms;
A represents a radical reactive in anionic polymerizations;
Y represents a radical reactive in cationic polymerization and non-reactive toward agents initiating anionic polymerization;
n varies between 1 and 3; and
p varies between 1 and 6.
Preferably, n is 1 except when it is advantageous to dispose directly of a cross-linked material and it is desirable to pursue its cross-linking cationically. When n is 2, two functions borne by the same monomer polymerize together, as for those leading to the formation of cycles without cross-linking. It can also be interesting to mix monomers wherein n=1 to a small fraction, for example, 0.1 to 10%, of a polyfunctional monomer to increase the molecular weight by creating branches compensating the natural end of the chains.
The polymers of the invention are prepared by anionic polymerization and contain monomers as defined above wherein A preferably comprises:
wherein
Z represents O or CH2;
R represents H, an alkyl or oxa-alkyl radical of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, CN or CH2COOR1 wherein R1 is H or an alkyl or oxa-alkyl radical of 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
In the same monomers, Y preferably comprises
wherein
Rxe2x80x2 represents H or an alkyl radical of 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and
r varies between 1 and 6.
The life span of the cationic species allowing the propagation of the polymerization/cross-linking being particularly long when compared to that of radicalar species, the reaction can carry on after initiation with a cationic polymerization initiator, until complete consumption of the Y groups. In particular, a brief exposure to heat or an actinic radiation is sufficient to initiate the reactive species, and polymerization can continue even in the absence of the activating agent, especially because of the absence of termination reaction caused by the oxygen in the air.
Suitable anionic-type initiators comprise preferably organometallics, amides, alkoxides, strong bases derived from dialkyl-aminophosphines. Preferred organometallics comprise alkyllithium derivatives, such as butyllithium (primary, secondary or tertiary), hexyllithium, and lithium, sodium or potassium derivatives of 1,1xe2x80x2-diphenylethylene, tetraphenylethylene, naphthalene, biphenyle or benzophenone. Preferred amides comprise NaNH2, Ca(NH2)2, their addition products with epoxydes, dialkylamide derivatives like lithium di-isopropylamide. Preferred alkoxides comprise methoxide, ethoxide, butoxide (primary, secondary, tertiary) or tert-amyloxide derivatives of alkaline metals, alkoxides of linear alcohols of from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, monoalcohol polyethylenes of weight comprised between 400 and 800, alkoxides of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycol, glycerol, oligoethylenes glycol, sorbitol, pentaerythritol; trimethylolpropane, bis-trimethyloldiethylether, bisphenol A and their polyethoxylated derivatives. Preferred strong bases comprise dialkylaminophosphines derivatives such as 1-tert-butyl-4,4,4,-tris[dimethylamino-2,2-bis(trisdimethylamino)-phosphoranylideneamino]-2xcex5-4xcex5-catenadi(phosphazene), commonly known as xe2x80x9cphosphazene base P4-t-buxe2x80x9d. Generally, organometallic and dialkylamide derivatives, in particular lithium derivatives, are preferred to initiate the polymerization of the double bonds activated by other conjugated double bond Cxe2x95x90C or Cxe2x95x90O, such as derivatives of butadiene, styrene, and acrylic or methacrylic acid. For the polymerization of epoxides, alkaline metal derivatives like mono or polyhydroxylic alcohols of sodium and particularly potassium leading to the formation of straight or branched chains, are preferred. Dialkylaminophosphines are reactive for acrylates or epoxides. The activity of the organometallic, amide or alkoxide derivatives can be increased in the presence of molecules susceptible of strongly solvating alkaline ions, for example THF, dialkyl ethers of oligoethylene glycols containing between 2 and 16 carbon atoms and usable as solvents. Peralkyl(polyethyleneimines) of 2 to 8 atoms of nitrogen, particularly tetramethylethylene diamine (TMDA), pentamethyldiethylenediamine, and tris(2-dimethylaminoethylamine) have activating properties particularly interesting.
The polymers of the invention obtained after the initial anionic polymerization are cross-linked by a cationic process using the monomer groups designed for that purpose. Generally, the catalysts allowing the propagation of the reaction of polymerization/cross-linking are Lewis or Brxc3x8nsted acids. Most reactive Lewis acids comprise derivatives of aluminum; boron, zinc of the type B(Hal)3, Al(Hal)3, Zn(Hal)2 wherein Hal is a halogen or pseudohalogen, or an alkyl, aryl or zinc halides group. Brxc3x8nsted acids are on the other hand susceptible of giving a cation with a surface charge higher than 3xc3x9710xe2x88x9219 coulombs/xc3x852. Other cations that correspond to the charge criteria comprise, without restriction, Li+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Sn2+, Al3+ etc. Most reactive derivatives correspond to strong acids and anions Xxe2x88x92 weakly basic or weakly nucleophilic. Example of such anions are AlCl4xe2x88x92, BF4xe2x88x92, PF6xe2x88x92, AsF6xe2x88x92, SbF6xe2x88x92, TeOF5xe2x88x92, R2SO3xe2x88x92 ou B(R2)4xe2x88x92; wherein R2 is fluorine or an alkyl or aryl group optionally halogenated; (R2SO2)2N; (R2SO2)2C(R3)xe2x88x92, (R2SO2)3Cxe2x88x92 wherein R3 is H or R2. The acids can be directly added to the polymer, or be in a latent form. Salts of weak bases such as nitrogenated bases or ethers, are suitable for this use, and the acid form is freed by heat, preferably at temperatures between 40 and 180xc2x0 C. It is also possible to free the acid thermally from a diazonium salt RNxe2x95x90N+Xxe2x88x92 decomposing to lead to the acid HX and nitrogen by extraction of protons from the solvent or the monomer.
Acid esters corresponding to non nucleophilic anions are efficient cationic initiators. They include methyl, ethyl or benzyl derivatives of toluene-, fluoro-, methane- and trifluoromethanesulfonates, and tetramethylene xe2x80x94(CH2)4xe2x80x94 diesters.
In a preferred embodiment, the acids can be freed by the action of actinic radiations on leaving compounds. Actinic radiation includes visible or UV photons, ionizing radiations, like xcex3 rays and xcex2 electron beams. Cationic photoinitiators, in other words acid photogenerators, comprise ionic compounds J+Xxe2x88x92, wherein Xxe2x88x92 is an anion as defined above and J+ is a cation of the diaryliodionium, diarylbromonium, triarylsulfonium, phenacyl-dialkylsulfonium, arene-metallocenium, aryldiazonium type, the organic group being optionally substituted. Two or more J+ cations can be linked together or J+ can be part of a recurring unit of a polymer chain. Another family of photoinitiators or thermal initiators comprise advantageously sulphonic esters of 2-nitro, 2,4-dinitro or 2,6-dinitrobenzyl, in particular 2,4-dinitro or 2,6-dinitrobenzyl toluenesulfonates. These initiators are not ionic, thus easily miscible with the monomers and polymers slightly or non polar.
Other cationic initiators exist, in particular derivatives of allyloxypyridinium salts, which, in the presence of free radical generators, activated thermally or with an actinic radiation, release alkyl or pyridyl cations. There may be mentioned N-[2-ethoxycabonylallyloxy]-xcex1-picolinium hexafluoroantimonate.
The technique of the invention is particularly advantageous for the preparation of polymers in the form of films because of the absence of sensitivity of the cationic polymerization process to oxygen, in particular when compared to other techniques involving radicalar processes. The process is however not limited to such type of moulding. The polymers, before cross-linking, can be molded in various forms, following the addition of a latent cationic polymerization catalyst, which can be activated either by heat or by a penetrating actinic radiation.
It can be interesting to minimize the volume contractions inherent to most polymerization processes, including the cross-linking. The cationic processes involving oxygenated derivatives of dioxolanes of the type spiro-orthoformates or spiro-orthocarbonates are characterized by an increase of volume. Monomers and polymers of the invention bearing such functions that can be used to control the variation of volumes, are exemplified by the following formulas:
Another advantage brought by the cationic cross-linking groups of the invention, in addition to the complete and controlled cross-linking, is the flexibility of the sub-network obtained. The functions resulting from the cationic cross-linking bearing groups of the type:
are intrinsically flexible, and the corresponding homopolymers have low glassy transition temperatures (Tg). For example, Tg=xe2x88x9231xc2x0 C. for polyvinylmethyl ether, while que Tg=+114xc2x0 C. for methyl polymethacrylate. These characteristics can be maintained at the cationic sub-network level of the polymer depending on the choice of the flexible bonds linking the anionic groups to the cationic groups. Simple alkylene xe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94 wherein 2xe2x89xa6nxe2x89xa612 and; oxyalkylene xe2x80x94[CH2OCH(R)]nxe2x80x94 wherein 1xe2x89xa6nxe2x89xa66, are particularly preferred to form divalent organic bonds insuring the link between the anionic groups and the cationic groups in the monomer and/or the resulting polymer.
The polymers of the present invention can be homo- or statistic copolymers incorporating monomers with double functionality and one or more other monomers. For example, a terpolymer containing monomers A, B and C in molar ratios a, b, and c, is denoted Aa-stat-Bb-stat-Cc. They can be bloc polymers of the type A-bloc-B or A-bloc-B-bloc-A, A-bloc-B-bloc-C, each segment A, B or C incorporating at various rates the double functionality monomers. In a variation, only A, B or C includes, in the form of a homopolymer or copolymer, at least one double functionality monomer. It is understood that the polymers of the invention are not limited to three monomers, and that any person skilled in the art will appreciate the possible variations offered by the living character of anionic polymerization. Another possibility is to form star polymers or dendrimers from polyfunctional anionic initiators of the type T(Aa-stat-Bb-stat-Cc)t, T(A-bloc-B)t or T(A-bloc-B-bloc-A)t, or even T(A-bloc-B-bloc-C)t, T being a polyfunctional radical of valence t, 2xe2x89xa6txe2x89xa6104, preferably, 2xe2x89xa6txe2x89xa610 for star structures, and up to 104 for dendrimers. Branched polymers can be obtained by using low rates of a monomer having more than one reactive functionality in anionic polymerization.
The molding and cross-linking step can precede or be simultaneous with the addition of various additives, for example, a dispersion of solids, in the form of powders, flakes of fibers, for changing the rheological properties during the moulding and/or confer improved mechanical characteristics to the finished product as well as fire retardant properties. To that end, it can be mentioned silica dispersions in the form of nanoparticles, carbon black, simple oxides like magnesia, or complexes like LiAlO2, metallic nitrides and carbides, flaked silicates, in particular micas, hectorite, montmorillonite, vermiculite, graphite, including in expanded form; fluoroaluminates complexes of the type KAlF4, fibers of the polyolefine or polyimide type, including those aromatics, carbon fibers in particular those obtained from pyrolysis of organic materials of ceramic fibers comprising oxides, nitrides or carbides or oxynitrides or oxycarbides, optionally in the form of woven or non-woven layer. Additives conferring other properties specific to the polymer can also be added. For example, additives having an ionic or electronic conductivity, such as alumina xcex2 or xcex2xe2x80x3 lithium nitride, any form of carbon, conjugated polymers, in particular derivatives of benzene, thiophene, pyrrole and condensed heteroaromatic rings. Perovskite structure additives can contribute to increase the dielectric constant by inducing piezoelectric properties to the resulting composite material.
The molar proportion of double functionality monomer can be chosen between 0.1 and 100% molar depending on the cross-linking density desired. Preferred compositions according to the invention comprise between 1 and 35% molar of double functionality monomer.
Liquids or plasticizers increasing the flexibility of the polymer in a finished state or during moulding can also be added. Such liquids or plasticizers are numerous and well-known to anyone skilled in the art. In general, materials are selected for their compatibility with the polymer chain and their low volatility. There can be mentioned organic polyacid esters such as phtalates, citrates, xcex1,xcfx89-diacids of alkyls of 3 to 12 carbon atoms or alkylene glycols of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and esters of phosphoric or phosphonic acids, which confer fire retardant properties.
The addition of plasticizers further allows the increase, if necessary, of the conductivity of polymer electrolytes at low temperatures. The plasticizer is then chosen with respect to its dielectric constant as well as for its electrochemical stability in the conditions in which the polymer electrolyte will be used. Most useful plasticizers for that purpose comprise cyclic and acyclic carbonates, in particular ethylene and propylene carbonates, dimethyl, diethyl, ethyl-methyl and methyl-propyl carbonates; xcex3-butyrolactone; carboxylic acid esters such as formiates, acetates, alkyl propionates of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; tetraalkylsulfamides; dialkylated ethers of mono, di, tri and tetraethylene glycols comprising alkyl groups of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; dialkylated ethers of oligooxyethylene of weights inferior to 2000 g/mol, these alkyl groups having between 1 and 18 carbon atoms. Such plasticizers can be used alone or in combinations thereof.
The concentration of plasticizer can vary, generally between 0.5 and 90% by weight, and preferably between 3 and 70% by weight. High concentrations of plasticizer give materials with a high conductivity. The mobility of the chain becoming important, this translates by a noticeable loss of mechanical properties. The strong cross-linking density obtained with the polymers according to the invention is an advantage to maintain good mechanical properties.
The plasticizers added can also react during the cationic cross-linking reaction. The plasticizer or plasticizers added to the polymer must then contain at least one cationic polymerization reactive function. Various plasticizers of that type are known and/or commercially available, in particular those bearing vinyl ether functions. There may be mentioned vinyl ether of glycols, in particular those of butanediol, di-, tri-, and tetraethylene glycol and their monoalkyl-ethers, and trimethylolpropane. A particularly interesting additive, because of its high dielectric constant and its facility to dissolve in polar compounds, metallic or onium salts, including cationic photoinitiators, is propenyl-propylene carbonate ether
Any other coloring agent, anti-oxidant or anti-UV additive known to those skilled in the art and compatible with the monomer structures and polymers obtained therefrorn can be used for the polymers of the invention.
The cross-linking can also be performed in the presence of cationic polymerization reactive cycles, such as epoxides, 1,3-dioxolane, 1,3-dioxane, 1,3-dioxepane and their derivatives, spiranes of the orthoformate or orthocarbonate type as defined above, for example derivatives of mono- and di-formal pentaerythritol. When Y is a vinyl ether, it is further possible to incorporate monomers with electron-poor double bonds. Examples include fumarates, maleates, maleic anhydride, maleimide, and as well as acrylates and methacrylates. These compounds form, with vinyl ethers, charge transfer complexes, and their polymerization leads to the formation of an alternate polymer forming the cross-linking sub-network. Such type of polymerization is spontaneously activated by heat or free radical sources, either thermally generated or generated through actinic radiations, even in the presence of a photoinitiator. The maleimide derivatives in particular provide complexes spontaneously polymerizable in the presence of UV and barely sensitive to oxygen. The compounds can be monofunctional, or bifunctional such as
wherein R4 is an alkylene radical comprising from 2 to 18 carbon atoms or oxyalkylene xe2x80x94CH2CH2(OCH2CH2)nOCH2CH2xe2x80x94 wherein n varies between 0 and 60.
The use of the compounds of the invention for the preparation of polymer electrolytes represents a particularly preferred embodiment. Such polymer electrolytes have various applications in the field of electrochemistry. They also have anti-static properties that do not require the addition of absorbing conductive powders. As stated above, polyethers are preferred materials because of their dissociating and solubilizing power towards metallic salts or nitrogenated protonated bases (ammonium, imidazolium, guanidinium, etc.). The polymer may be linear, star shaped, or comb-like with lateral chains. Linear polymers are easier to obtain by co-polymerization of one or more solvating epoxides with a monomer of the invention having an epoxide as group A. Solvating epoxides preferably comprise ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is particularly preferred because of its high complexing power and its strong anionic polymerization reactivity, thus allowing control of the molecular weight.
Depending on the conditions of use of the polymer electrolyte, it may be preferable to minimize the degree of crystallinity resulting from the inclination of the ethylene polyoxide segments to form organized domains, the existence of which being prejudicial to the conductivity. For this reason, the preparation of terpolymers between ethylene oxide, the starting monomer and a terpolymer is chosen. The terpolymer preferably comprises propylene oxide, butylene oxide, methylglycidylether, allylglycidylether, or a monomer bearing an ionic function such as
preferably in a proportion of from 0.5 to 25% molar. Potassium is advantageous because it does not interfere with the cationic polymerization and can be exchanged later for other ions, such as lithium cation.
The monomer of the polymer electrolytes according to the invention preferably comprise the compounds
wherein
R5 represents a divalent alkyl or oxa-alkyl of from 0 to 12 carbon atoms; and
Rxe2x80x2 is as defined above.
R5 is preferably xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94C2H4xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94C4H8xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94C6H12xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94C2H4OC2H4 xe2x80x94or xe2x80x94C2H4OC2H4OC2H4Oxe2x80x94, and Rxe2x80x2 preferably comprises hydrogen, methyl or ethyl. When R5 is xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, Rxe2x80x2 is preferably methyl or ethyl. The corresponding monomers are easily accessible from commercial allyl glycidyl ether by isomerization of the double bond in the presence of RuCl2 with phosphines or iron pentacarbonyl derivatives.
In another embodiment of the polymer electrolytes, anionic polymerization of styrene is used to form a polymer chain with lateral ethylene oxide chain. The general formula of such compounds is:
wherein
p varies between 2 and 60;
R6 is a monovalent alkyl of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a monovalent aryl of from 5 to 18 carbon atoms;
Q is (CH2)q, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94 ou xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94; and
q varies between 0 and 4.
A preferred example of such compound is when Q is (CH2)q and q is 1, which can be easily prepared by reacting an alkoxy oligooxyethylene alkaline metal derivative R6(OCH2CH2)pOM wherein M is Li, Na, K on ortho- or para-chloromethylstyrene.
The monomers allowing the preparation of the preferred polymers of the invention comprise:
wherein Rxe2x80x2 and Q are as defined above, and R7 is R5.
Particularly preferred compound are those wherein (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94)q, and q is 1.
It could be advantageous to incorporate a styrene type terpolymer to introduce variations in the Tg, the adhesion, the polarity, etc. Vinylbenzene derivatives having various functionalities are preferred, and these derivatives are numerous and well-known to those skilled in the art. Functionalities of interest comprise those with polar groups for changing the local dielectric constant, for example NO2, RCO and RCOO, or changing the surface tensions, for example alkyl chains of more than 8 carbon atoms. Halogens act on the inflammability. It is of interest to incorporate monomers with ionic functions to induce ionic conductivity, mainly because of the cations, which are the most interesting for electrochemical applications. There may be mentioned the monomer salts:
In a further preferred embodiment of the polymer electrolytes, the anionic polymerization of a double bond activated by a carbonyl group is used to form a polymer chain with a lateral ethylene oxide chain. The general formula of the main monomer allowing the synthesis of such polymers is:
wherein Z, R, R6 and p are as defined above.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, Z is O and R is methyl.
Other preferred monomers for the preparation of the polymers according to the invention comprise:
wherein
Rxe2x80x2 is as defined above and R8 is R5.
As mentioned above, it is of interest to incorporate monomers comprising ionic functions. In such a case, there can be mentioned monomer salts:
In the preparation of the above polymer electrolytes, conductivity is insured by a salt dissolved in the chain solvating the polyether segments. Generally, the salts are chosen from metallic salts or salts of a nitrogenated protonated base, for example ammonium, imidazolium, guanidinium, that are susceptible of freeing Mz+ cations and an anion selected preferably from weakly basic and non nucleophilic anions such as ClO4xe2x88x92, BF4xe2x88x92, PF6xe2x88x92, AsF6xe2x88x92, SbF4xe2x88x92, RfSO3xe2x88x92, CnF2n+1SO3xe2x88x92 wherein n varies between 0 and 8, (RxSO2NSO2Rxe2x80x2x)xe2x88x92, (RxSO2C(SO2Rxe2x80x2x)Rxxe2x80x3)xe2x88x92, anions derived from cyclopentadiene and its aza analogs bearing electro-attracting groups, anions derived from pyrimidine-trione or 1,3-dioxane-4,5-dione bearing electro-attracting groups, in particular of the type CN or CF3SO2, and malonitrile derivatives, wherein Rx and Rxxe2x80x2 are the same or different and at least one has electronegative atoms such as halogen, and in particular such as that at least one Rx and Rxxe2x80x2 is equal to CnF2n+1 wherein n varies between 0 and 8, Rxxe2x80x3 being either Rx, RxSO2xe2x80x94 or Rxxe2x80x2SO2xe2x88x92. Most preferred anions comprise ClO4xe2x88x92, BF4xe2x88x92, PF6xe2x88x92, CF3SO3xe2x88x92, (FSO2)2Nxe2x88x92, (CF3SO2)2Nxe2x88x92, (C2F5SO2)2Nxe2x88x92, [(CF3SO2)2CH]xe2x88x92, [CF3SO2)C(CN)2]xe2x88x92, [(CF3SO2)3C]xe2x88x92, (CF3SO2)NSO2N(R9)2)xe2x88x92 wherein R9 is an alkyl of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, anions derived from 4,5-dicyano-1,2,3-triazole, 3-5-bistrifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazole, or tricyanomethane. The concentration of salt is preferably expressed in terms of the ratio of the number of oxygens of the oxyethylene segments per cation (O/M). Generally, this number is comprised between 0.5 and 1000.
A great number of cations or mixtures thereof gives solutions in the polymers of the invention. Cations of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, tin, ammonium and imidazolium, are preferred. Lithium ion and mixtures of lithium and potassium ions are particularly preferred for electrochemical applications.
The anionic portion or the cationic portion of the salt can be part of a macromolecular chain, including that of the polymer of the invention, through incorporation of termonomers described above or others, of the ionic type. Polymers wherein at least a portion of the negative charges are fixed on the polymer are particularly useful as solid electrolytes for applications in batteries and accumulators, supercapacity or electrochromic systems.
As stated above, the polymers of the invention can be cross-linked until high cross-linking rates are achieved because of the reactivity of the cationic functions of the monomers used. For polymer electrolytes, high cross-linking rates for the purpose of inducing good mechanical properties are useful if the glassy transition temperatures are not raised notably. The flexibility of the bonds linking the anionic chain to the cationic sub-network, as well as the intrinsic flexibility of this sub-network, are significant advantages for polymer electrolytes, as mentioned previously.
Moulding of the polymer electrolytes in thin films is performed conventionally by spreading from a solution, or extrusion. For economical reasons, as well as lower impact on the environment, it is preferred to use quantities of solvents as small as possible. In that respect, polymers with low weight are interesting because their moulding can be carried out from concentrated solutions, or from the pure state. For epoxides, the end of the chains are generally hydroxyls functions. Their higher concentration, in the case of low weight polymers, is prejudicial because these functions are reactive, particularly towards lithium. An advantage of the cationic cross-linking is the possibility of neutralizing the hydroxyl functions to form acetal bonds stable to potentials close to those of lithium participating to the cross-linking. Such possibility is exemplified below in the case where the cationic functions are vinyl ethers:
The polymers of the present invention can be used in combination with at least one salt Mn+Xnxe2x88x92, wherein Mn+ is an inorganic, organic or organometallic cation of charge n, and Xxe2x88x92 is a monovalent anion, and wherein 2 or more Xxe2x88x92 can be linked together with covalent chains or chains belonging to a polymer. Such a combination is useful in a system for storing electric energy such as a primary or secondary generator, or a supercapacity comprising at least one negative electrode and at least one positive electrode, the latter comprising at least in part the ionic compound. The positive electrode may further comprise. another electrode material such as vanadium oxides LiyVOx wherein (2xxe2x88x925xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa62xxe2x88x923; 2.15xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa62.5), LiyN1xe2x88x92xxe2x88x92zCoxAlzO2 wherein 0xe2x89xa6x+yxe2x89xa61 and 0xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa61, manganese spinels LiyMn2xe2x88x92xMxO4 wherein M is Li, Cr, Al, V, Ni, 0xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa60.5 and 0xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa62, organic polydisulfides, polyquinones such as rhodizonates, FeS, FeS2, iron sulfate, iron and lithium phosphates and phosphosilicates of the olivine or Nasicon structure, or products of substitution of iron with manganese, used alone or in mixtures.

Polymers obtained from monomers allowing a sequential polymerization, and their use for preparing ionic conductors


Tissue transfer devices suitable for transfer of tissues include a cannula, a plurality of tissue separating members outwardly extendable from the cannula, a tissue reservoir disposed in fluid communication with the cannula and a pump disposed in fluid communication with the tissue reservoir.

The background description provided herein is solely for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. Aspects of the background description are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the claimed subject matter.
Skin, adipose and other body tissues may change in appearance and/or lose function with age and/or use due to injury, disease, wear, aging and/or other causes. One of the goals of plastic surgical procedures may include rejuvenation of body tissues to restore the original appearance and/or function of the tissues. For example, conventional tissue rejuvenation procedures may include the use of adipose stem/progenitor cells to promote angiogenesis and adipose tissue regeneration. However, such procedures may have less-than-optimum results and scarring.
Accordingly, tissue transfer devices suitable for implementation of tissue rejuvenation methods in which body tissues can be repaired, regenerated or renewed by removing tissue regenerative cells from a cell harvest site, mechanically agitating the cells and injecting the cells at a cell injection site in an area on a patient which is in need of rejuvenation due to injury, disease, wear, aging and/or other causes are needed.

Tissue transfer devices suitable for tissue implementation


A method and assay system is provided for screening for antimicrobial agents that inhibit or otherwise disrupt the transcription of bacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, particularly those in Gram-positive bacteria. The method and assay utilizes purified RNA polymerase, isolated, for example, from either Bacillus subtilis or Escherichia coli, and a template DNA fragment which encodes glycyl-tRNA synthetase, containing the promoter and leader region of the B. subtilis glyQS gene, including the T-Box terminator/antiterminator. Incubation in the presence of nucleotide triphosphates results in synthesis of an RNA transcript initiating at the glyQS promoter and terminating at the leader region terminator. Read-through of the terminator, and synthesis of an extended transcript, is dependent on addition of purified glycyl-tRNA. The method and assay is dependent on the use of the specified tRNA species; non-specific tRNA fails to stimulate antitermination. The assay can be used to screen for inhibitors that specifically inhibit the T-box antitermination mechanism.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are enzymes found in all bacteria, plants and animals, and are required for cells to make protein. Bacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are usually present as a single species for each amino acid; approximately 20 different synthetases are required for aminoacylation. Lacking redundancy in the aminoacylation step of protein synthesis, bacteria are critically dependent on the transcription and translation of each of these enzymes. Inhibitors that block the production or function of one or more bacterial synthetases are therefore potentially useful as antimicrobial agents for prevention and treatment of disease in humans and other organisms.
A potential target for shutting-down expression of bacterial aminoacyl synthetase genes is the T-box termination/antitermination transcriptional control complex. Many Gram positive, and certain Gram negative bacteria have genes that are regulated by a transcriptional control element known as the T-box termination/antitermination complex. This complex comprises a set of specific control elements that are found within the leader sequences located upstream of certain bacterial genes. The structural arrangement of these leaders is conserved across a broad spectrum of bacterial strains, and the control elements that are specific to the T-box termination/antitermination complex are highly conserved. The T-box termination/antitermination complex regulates expression of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes and other amino acid-related genes in response to the level of charging of cognate tRNAs. Uncharged tRNAs permit read-through of the template by favoring the antiterminator configuration, thus resulting in expression of the gene located downstream of the leader region. Charged tRNAs block read-through of the template by favoring the terminator configuration, thus resulting in termination of expression. Since expression of these T-box regulated genes is required for survival of the bacterial cell, and this system is found in many pathogenic organisms, the T box system represents a target for antimicrobial agents. To date, it has not been possible to isolate this complex in a cell-free system in order to evaluate potential specific modulators or inhibitors of expression of T-box regulated genes. Thus, it would be useful to have a well-defined in vitro assay that would permit evaluation of agents that specifically interact with the T-box termination/antitermination complex. Such an assay system would permit the rapid and high throughput screening of potential inhibitors of expression of T-box regulated genes.

In vitro transcription assay for T box antitermination system

The Ohio State University Research Foundation


An organic electroluminescent display device comprises a substrate, including a pixel region and a non-pixel region at a boundary of the pixel region; a first electrode on the substrate in the pixel region; a separator over the first electrode, the separator located in the non-pixel region, the separator including a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width smaller than the first width, the first portion overlapping edges of the first electrode, and the second portion within the non-pixel region; an organic electroluminescent layer over the separator in the pixel region surrounded by the separator; and a second electrode on an entire surface of the organic electroluminescent layer and the separator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, an organic electroluminescent display device and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, an organic electroluminescent display (OELD) device emits light by injecting electrons from a cathode and holes from an anode into an emission layer, combining the electrons with the holes, generating excitons, and transitioning the excitons from an excited state to a ground state. In contrast to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, an OELD does not require an additional light source because the OELD device transmits light emitted by the transition of the excitons between states. Accordingly, the OELD device is lighter and smaller than a comparable liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The OELD device has other desirable characteristics, such as low power consumption, superior brightness and a fast response time. Because of these advantageous characteristics, the OELD device is regarded as a promising candidate for use in various next-generation consumer electronic applications, such as cellular phones, car navigation systems (CNS), personal digital assistants (PDA), camcorders and palmtop computers. Moreover, an OELD device is much cheaper to produce than an LCD device because the fabrication process is relatively simpler for the OELD device than the LCD device and has fewer processing steps. There are two different types of OELD devices: passive matrix and active matrix.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an organic electroluminescent device according to a related art. Referring to FIG. 1, an OELD device 10 includes a first substrate 12 and a second substrate 28 facing and spaced apart from each other. An array element layer 14 is formed on an inner surface of the first substrate 12. The array element layer 14 includes including a thin film transistor (TFT) T. A first electrode 46, an organic electroluminescent (EL) layer 50, and a second electrode 52 are sequentially formed over the array element layer 14. The organic EL layer 50 may separately display red, green, and blue colors for each pixel region P.
The first substrate 12 and the second substrate 28 are attached with a sealant 26. The OELD device 10 is encapsulated by attaching the first substrate 12 to the second substrate 28. A moisture absorbent desiccant 22 is positioned on the second substrate 28. The moisture absorbent desiccant 22 eliminates moisture and oxygen that may penetrate the encapsulated organic EL layer 50. More particularly, a portion of the second substrate 28 is etched and the moisture absorbent desiccant 22 is placed in the etched portion and affixed by a holding element 25. Although not shown, the organic EL layer may be divided into a plurality of pixel regions by a separator.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a separator in an organic electroluminescent device according to the related art. Referring to FIG. 2, a first electrode 46 and an organic EL layer 50 (shown in FIG. 1) are located in the pixel region P. A second electrode 52 (shown in FIG. 1) is formed on an entire surface of the first substrate 12. For example, when the first electrode 46 acts as an anode, it is formed by depositing and patterning a conductive material having a high work-function, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), through a vacuum apparatus, such as a sputtering chamber. In addition, when the organic EL layer 50 is made of a polymeric material, it is formed by a printing process, for example ink-jet printing. On the other hand, when the organic EL layer 50 is made of a monomeric material, it is formed by a deposition process.
A separator SP is required to divide the organic EL layer 50 into a plurality of pixel regions P in an independent emitting type OELD device using a polymeric organic EL material. The separator SP can prevent mixing between different colors of the organic EL layers 50. Although not shown, the buffer layer 48 and the separator SP correspond to portions of the gate, data and power lines.
The organic EL layer 50 includes red, green and blue EL layers (not shown) formed in the pixel regions P in repeating order after forming the separator SP at a boundary of the pixel regions P and a buffer layer 48 on the separator SP. The buffer layer 48 is located at the boundary of the pixel regions P including a portion overlapping edges of the first electrode 46 to prevent any electrical contact between the first electrode 46 and the second electrode 52 (shown in FIG. 1) at the corner of the separator SP. Thus, the buffer layer 48 is larger than the separator SP.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an array substrate of an organic electroluminescent device for one pixel region according to the related art. In general, an array element layer 14 (shown in FIG. 1) of an OELD device 10 includes a switching thin film transistor Ts, a driving thin film transistor TD and a storage capacitor CST. A first substrate 12 is made of a transparent insulating substrate, such as glass and plastic. A gate line GL and a data line DL cross each other are formed on the first substrate 12. The gate line GL and the data line DL define a pixel region. An insulating layer (not shown) is interposed between the gate line GL and the data line DL. A power line PL crosses the gate line GL, in parallel with and spaced apart from the data line DL.
The switching thin film transistor Ts includes a switching gate electrode 26, a switching active layer 16, a switching source electrode 34, and a switching drain electrode 36. Similarly, the driving thin film transistor TD includes a driving gate electrode 28, a driving active layer 18, a driving source electrode 38, and a driving drain electrode 40. The switching gate electrode 26 is connected to the gate line GL and the switching source electrode 34 is connected to the data line DL. The switching drain electrode 36 is connected to the driving gate electrode 28 via a first contact hole 69 that exposes a portion of the driving gate electrode 28. The driving source electrode 38 is connected to the power line PL via a second contact hole 57 that exposes a portion of the power line PL. Moreover, a first electrode 46 is connected to the driving drain electrode 40 via the third contact hole 59. The power line PL overlaps a first capacitor electrode 20 with the insulating layer interposed therebetween to form the storage capacitor CST.
Although not shown, the separator SP (shown in FIG. 2), which is formed in a portion corresponding to the data line DL and the power line PL, can divide the organic EL layer emitting a specific light into a plurality of pixel regions. Further, the buffer layer 48 (shown in FIG. 2) is formed between the first electrode 46 and the separator SP and is located in the non-pixel region at a boundary of the pixel region P including the portion overlapping edges of the first electrode 46.
FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along lines IVA-IVA, IVB-IVB and V-V of FIG. 3, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5, a switching thin film transistor TS and a driving thin film transistor TD are formed on a first substrate 12 including a switching region S and a driving region D within a pixel region P, respectively. The switching thin film transistor TS includes a switching active layer 16, a switching gate electrode 26, a switching source electrode 34, and a switching drain electrode 36. Similarly, the driving thin film transistor TD includes a driving active layer 18, a driving gate electrode 28, a driving source electrode 38, and a driving drain electrode 40.
Specifically, although not shown, the switching gate electrode 26 is connected to the gate line GL and the switching source electrode 34 is connected to the data line DL. The switching drain electrode 36 is connected to the driving gate electrode 28. The driving source electrode 38 is connected to the power line PL, and the driving drain electrode 40 is connected to a first electrode 46 in the pixel region P. A buffer layer 48 is formed on the first electrode 46 at a boundary of the pixel region P corresponding to the data line DL and the power line PL, as shown in FIG. 5. The buffer layer 48 overlaps edges of the first electrode 46. A separator SP is formed on the buffer layer 48 within the boundary of the pixel region P. An organic EL layer 50 is formed on the first electrode 46 in the pixel region P surrounded by the separator SP. A second electrode 52 is formed on the entire surface of the organic EL layer 50 and the separator SP. However, at least two mask processes are required to form the buffer layer 48 and the separator SP for the OELD device.
FIGS. 6A to 6E are cross-sectional views of a fabricating process of an organic electroluminescent diode substrate for an organic electroluminescent device according to the related art. Referring to FIG. 6A, a first electrode 46 is formed on a first substrate 12 including a pixel region P. The first electrode 46 is located in the pixel region P. An inorganic material layer 47 is formed by depositing an inorganic material, such as silicon nitride (SiNx), on the entire surface of the first electrode 46 and the first substrate 12. A photoresist layer 80 is formed by coating photoresist on the inorganic insulating material layer 47.
Referring to FIG. 6B, a photoresist pattern 82 is formed by patterning the photoresist layer 80 on the inorganic material layer 47 at the boundary of the pixel region P including a portion overlapping edges of the first electrode 46. Referring to FIG. 6C, a buffer layer 48 is formed by etching a portion of the inorganic material layer 47 (shown in FIG. 6B) uncovered by the photoresist pattern 82 (shown in FIG. 6B). Then, the buffer layer 48 is formed using a first mask process, which includes exposing, developing and etching. An organic layer 90 is formed by coating an organic insulating material on the entire surface of the buffer layer 48 and the first electrode 46.
Referring to FIG. 6D, a separator SP is formed by patterning the organic material layer 90 (shown in FIG. 6C) through a second mask process similar to the first mask process. The separator SP is located within the boundary of the pixel region P but the buffer layer 48 overlaps the edges of neighboring pixel regions P to prevent the first electrode 46 and a second electrode that will be formed later from electrically contacting each other. Thus, although not shown, a width of the buffer layer 48 is larger than a width of the separator SP. When an organic EL layer is formed by coating a polymeric material, the separator SP should have a height of more than 1 micrometer. Thus, a portion of the organic EL layer near to the separator SP becomes thicker. Accordingly, the separator SP should have a predetermined side gap K with the buffer layer 48 toward the first electrode 46.
Referring to FIG. 6E, an organic EL layer 50 is formed on the first electrode 46 in the pixel region P surrounded by the separator SP. A second electrode 52 is formed on the entire surface of the organic EL layer 50 and the separator SP. The second electrode 52 acts as a cathode and comprises a metallic material having a low work-function, such as calcium (Ca), aluminum (Al) and magnesium (Mg) and lithium fluorine/aluminum (LiF/Al). In addition, when the organic EL layer 50 is formed by coating, no mask process is required for forming the organic EL layer 50.
At least two mask processes are required to form the buffer layer 48 and the separator SP. As a result, several mask processes are required for the entire manufacturing process. The defective fraction increases with the number of mask processes. Moreover, production yield decreases and production cost increases because of processing delay, thus weakening a competitive pricing of the EL device.

Organic electroluminescent display device and method of fabricating the same


An example damper includes a damping member configured to damp a duct wall at an interface between a duct band and the duct wall.

This disclosure relates generally to damping vibrations, more particularly, to a damping member for use in connection with a duct band.
Turbomachines, such as gas turbine engines, typically include a fan section, a compression section, a combustor section, and a turbine section. During operation, flow enters the turbomachine through the fan section. Some of the flow moves along a core flowpath within a core engine portion of the turbomachine. Some of the flow moves along a bypass flowpath radially outside the core engine portion. A duct wall is positioned between the core engine flowpath and the bypass flowpath.
Some turbomachines include duct bands that radially compresses the duct wall to damp vibrations associated with the duct. The duct band directly interfaces with a radially outwardly facing surface of the duct. That is, the duct band contacts the duct.


A holder for a water saturable block of the kind used for holding the stems of cut flowers, greenery and the like in floral displays. A preferred holder is box-like and watertight, except for a hole in the central portion of its top wall for receiving water and into which a water saturable block is insertable. Lips at the edge of the hole slope toward the bottom wall of the holder and laterally inward toward the center of the hole for fixedly holding a block in the hole, retarding water leakage out of the holder past the block, helping guide insertion of a block into the hole, reinforcing the edge of the hole and helping retain water in the holder upon tilting of the holder with or without a block in the hole. Depending legs at the corners of the holder help support it on, for example, flat table tops or convex casket tops.

Floral trays, dishes, or holders are typically, but not exclusively, used for retaining water absorbent saturable blocks which are then impregnated with the stems of cut flowers or similarly attractive live or synthetic products for use on coffins, party tables, shelves, or furniture.
Several prior types of products have been, or are being, used to secure the saturable block to a paper mache or plastic tray, holder or container.
One group of these prior products secures the absorbent saturable block by means of tape, straps, wires, glue or similar securing assists. The use of wires, straps, etc. involves labor time, questionable securing quality, an inventory of materials--all of which are costly and therefore undesirable.
Another group of prior products merely supports the water saturable block between the upstanding sidewalls of a simple upward opening rectalinear tray. Positioning of the block between the sidewalls of papier mache or plastic trays is an effort to minimize cost. However the physical securing of the block to the tray or holder is at best limited.
Some prior products make an effort to store excess water in a double bottom of the tray or holder. However, water stored in the double bottom does not wet the block, or, if allowed to escape, is easily spilled.
My invention is intended to avoid these and other disadvantages of such prior devices.


A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a battery can container which houses a wound electrode body formed by winding a belt-shaped anode and cathode isolated by a separator together with an electrolytic solution, an anode terminal fixed to the battery can container through a gasket, and a safety valve incorporated between the anode terminal and the wound electrode body. The safety valve includes a safety cover annularly formed, a stripper disk annularly formed, and a disk holder, annularly formed, which houses the stripper disk in the safety cover to fix and integrate the safety cover and the stripper disk therewith.

The present application relates to a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and more particularly to a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with a safety valve (safety mechanism), more specifically a safety cover.
As one example, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is known in which a safety valve 50 is constructed as shown in FIG. 8. A disk holder 53 similar in shape to a safety cover 51 is put over the safety cover 52 such that a protrusion 52 of the safety cover 51 is contained therein, and a stripper disk 54 similar in shape to the disk holder 53 is put over the disk holder 53 such that the disk holder 53 is contained therein (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-307706 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1")).
As other examples of nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, batteries constructed similarly to the example shown in FIG. 8 are known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2701375 and 3555240 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Documents 2" and "Patent Document 3", respectively), and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-325942 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 4")).
However, in each of the known nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries disclosed in the Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, and 4, the safety cover, the disk holder, and the stripper disk are stacked. Thus a height between an upper surface of the safety cover and a lower surface of the stripper disk is so large that this stacked body juts into an internal space of the battery, thereby reducing the internal volume and thus making it likely to preclude a higher battery capacity.

Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery