Described is a stabilizer composition comprising a 3-arylacrylic ester, a polymeric compound having a molecular weight of at least 2000 which carries, on a polymeric framework, side groups having secondary amine functions, all substituents positioned to the amine nitrogen being other than hydrogen, a chroman derivative, and an organic phosphite and/or phosphonite. The stabilizer composition is particularly suitable for stabilizing thermoplastic polyurethane against light, oxygen and heat.

The present invention relates to a stabilizer composition and to its use to stabilize nonliving organic material against the effects of light, oxygen and heat.
The mechanical, chemical and/or aesthetic properties of nonliving organic material, especially plastics and coating materials, are known to be impaired by the effects of light, oxygen and heat. This impairment is normally manifested as yellowing, discoloration, cracking or embrittlement of the material. The purpose of stabilizers or stabilizer compositions is to afford satisfactory protection to counter the deterioration of organic material as a result of light, oxygen and heat.
Sterically hindered amines (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers; HALS) are known stabilizers against photolytic and thermal decomposition of plastics. Particularly suitable compounds of this kind are oligomeric HALS. For instance, DE-A-4239437 discloses certain maleamide-xcex1-olefin copolymers having tetramethylpiperidyl side groups, which constitute effective stabilizers.
The oligomeric HALS comprise solids. It has been found that the incorporation and homogeneous distribution of these substances in, for example, polymer molding compounds are occasionally difficult.
DE-A-4440288 discloses the use of certain 3-arylacrylic esters as light stabilizers and stabilizers for nonliving organic material. The 3-arylacrylic esters may be used in combination with sterically hindered amines.
DE-A-4405670 relates to a stabilizer mixture comprising chroman derivatives, organic phosphites or phosphonites and amines for stabilizing organic material.
It is an object of the present invention to specify a new stabilizer composition based on oligomeric HALS which is in a form that is easy to incorporate into the material to be stabilized, may be distributed homogeneously and affords a high protective action against the effects of light, oxygen and heat. The stabilizer composition should be particularly effective in the stabilization of polyurethanes.
We have found that this object is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of a stabilizer composition comprising
A) at least one 3-arylacrylic ester of the formula I
xe2x80x83where
Ar is an aryl radical which may carry 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, hydroxyl, phenoxy, amino, mono- or di(C1-4 alkyl)amino, halogen or nitro or may carry a methylenedioxy group,
R1 is C1 to C20 alkyl or C2 to C20 alkenyl, and
R2 and R3 are hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl,
B) a polymeric compound having a molecular weight of at least 2000 which carries, on a polymeric framework, side groups having secondary amine functions, all substituents positioned xcex1 to the amine nitrogen being other than nitrogen,
C) at least one chroman derivative of the formula II
xe2x80x83where R4 is a group of the formula
xe2x80x83and
D) at least one organic phosphite and/or phosphonite.
The stabilizer composition of the invention is generally a viscous liquid at room temperature and is therefore easy to incorporate into and disperse homogeneously in the material to be stabilized. The stabilizer composition of the invention preferably comprises a viscous liquid having a viscosity in the range from 2600 to 3000 mPas, in particular from 2700 to 2900 mPas, measured at 20xc2x0 C. and 30 sxe2x88x921 using a Haake Rheowin RS 150 apparatus.
It has also been found that the protective action of the stabilizer composition of the invention against the effects of light, oxygen and heat is higher than to be expected from the contributions of the components of the stabilizer composition. The pronounced protective action of the stabilizer composition of the invention is therefore based on a synergistic effect of the components.
The stabilizer composition of the invention comprises as component A) a 3-arylacrylic ester of formula I.
In formula I, Ar is, for example,
phenyl,
o-, m- or p-tolyl,
o-, m- or p-ethylphenyl,
o-, m- or p-propylphenyl,
m- or p-cumyl,
o-, m- or p-butylphenyl,
m- or p-iso-butylphenyl,
m- or p-sec-butylphenyl,
m- or p-tert-butylphenyl,
2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- or 3,5-dimethylphenyl, mesityl,
o-, m- or p-methoxyphenyl,
o-, m- or p-ethoxyphenyl,
o-, m- or p-propoxyphenyl,
m- or p-iso-propoxyphenyl,
o-, m- or p-butoxyphenyl,
m- or p-iso-butoxyphenyl,
m- or p-sec-butoxyphenyl,
m- or p-tert-butoxyphenyl,
2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- or 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl,
o-, m- or p-hydroxyphenyl, 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- or 3,5-dihydroxyphenyl, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl,
m- or p-phenoxyphenyl,
o-, m- or paminophenyl,
o-, m- or p-(N-methylamino)phenyl,
o-, m- or p-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl,
o-, m- or p-fluorophenyl,
o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl,
2,4-dichlorophenyl,
o-, m- or p-bromophenyl,
o-, m- or p-nitrophenyl,
2,3- or 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl,
2-, 3- or 4-biphenylyl, and
xcex1- or xcex2-naphthyl.
Particular preference is given to (C1-C4 alkoxy)phenyl radicals, especially those where the alkoxy radical is in p-position on the phenyl nucleus.
R1 is a straight-chain or branched C1-C20 alkyl or C2-C20 alkenyl group, e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, iso-pentyl, sec-pentyl, tert-pentyl, neo-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, iso-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, iso-tridecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-octadecyl, n-eicosyl, vinyl, allyl, methallyl, oleyl, linolyl and linolenyl. Of these, straight-chain or branched C5 to C16 alkyl groups, especially straight-chain or branched C8 to C12 alkyl groups, are preferred. Of particular interest are straight-chain or branched C8 alkyl groups.
A particularly preferred 3-arylacrylic ester of the formula I is 2-ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate.
The stabilizer composition of the invention comprises as component B) a polymeric compound having a molecular weight of at least 2000, in particular from 2300 to 50,000, which on a polymeric framework carries side groups having secondary amine functions, all substituents positioned a to the amine nitrogen atom being other than hydrogen and being, for example, C1-C4 alkyl radicals, especially methyl groups. The compound suitable as component B) is composed, accordingly, of successive repeating units, each repeating unit having a polymer framework moiety and at least one side group having at least one secondary amine function, all substituents positioned a to the amine nitrogen atom being other than hydrogen. The repeating unit may comprise further side groups which improve, for example, compatibility with the organic material to be stabilized. In general, component B) comprises from 5 to 100, preferably from 6 to 60, repeating units.
Components B) advantageously comprise maleic anhydride (co)polymers comprising, for example, from 0 to 90 mol % C2-C30 xcex1-olefin units and from 10 to 100 mol % maleic anhydride units, some or allxe2x80x94for example, more than 92 mol %xe2x80x94of the maleic anhydride units being imidated with 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine.
With particular preference, component B) comprises a maleic acid-xcex1-olefin copolymer comprising structural units of the formula III
where at least 92 mol % of the radicals R5 are a tetramethylpiperidyl radical of the formula IV
and up to 8 mol % of the radicals R5 are hydrogen, C1-C22 alkyl or C5-C8 cycloalkyl, and
R6 is C14-C28 alkyl, preferably C16-C24 alkyl, especially C18-C22 alkyl.
The radical R6 is preferably a mixture of C14-C28 alkyl groups, preferably C16-C24 alkyl groups, especially C18-C22 alkyl groups. The plot of the molar fraction of the alkyl groups having a given carbon number as a proportion of the total number of all radicals R6 in the copolymer molecules of a sample against the carbon number comprises preferably at least two maxima, each accounting for at least 30, preferably at least 40 mol %, and the carbon numbers assigned to these maxima differing by one or, preferably two, carbon atoms. The mixtures in question are, in particular, mixtures of octadecyl, eicosyl and docosyl, of which two of these groups, differing by two carbon atoms, account for more than 40 mol % and the third group for from 3 to 19 mol % of the mixture of the radicals R.
The copolymers of the formula III may be prepared by a process in which alternating maleic anhydride-xcex1-olefin copolymers are reacted with 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine and, if desired, up to 8 mol %, based on the copolymer, of ammonia, C1-C22 alkylamine or C5-C8 cycloalkylamine in an organic solvent at from 100 to 220xc2x0 C. Suitable organic solvents include, in particular, aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene, xylenes or mesitylene and halo- or nitrohydrocarbons, such as chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzenes or nitrobenzenes. The water formed in the reaction may judiciously be distilled off azeotropically. The maleic anhydride-xcex1-olefin copolymers used as starting material are obtainable by copolymerizing maleic anhydride with xcex1-olefins or xcex1-olefin mixtures, in accordance, for example, with Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie, volume E20/2, pp. 1237-1248 (1987). With regard to preferred compounds suitable as component B), reference is made to DE-A-4239437 in its entirety.
The stabilizer composition of the invention comprises as component C) at least one chroman derivative of the formula II. Particularly suitable in this respect is 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(2xe2x80x2-stearoyloxyethyl)chroman (R4=xe2x80x94CH2CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94C17H35) and, in particular, xcex1-tocopherols, preferably DL-xcex1-tocopherol (R4=xe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94CH(CH3)xe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94CH(CH3)xe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94C(CH3)2).
The stabilizer composition of the invention comprises as component D) at least one organic phosphite and/or phosphonite.
Particularly suitable in this respect are organic phosphites of the formula V
where the radicals R7 to R9 are each C2 to C12 alkyl, preferably C6 to C11 alkyl, especially C8 to C10 alkyl, or C6 to C18 aryl, preferably phenyl, which may be substituted by C1 to C18 alkyl groups, preferably from one to three C4 to C12 alkyl groups,
or an organic phosphonite of the formula VI
or mixtures of the phosphites V and the phosphonite VI.
Examples of phosphites of the formula V are the following:
trisalkyl phosphites having preferably long-chain linear or branched alkyl groups such as octyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl or isodecyl groups;
triaryl phosphites having unsubstituted or mono- to tri-alkyl-substituted aryl groups such as phenyl, nonylphenyl or 2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl groups;
mixed aryl alkyl phosphites, such as diisodecyl phenyl phosphite or diphenyl pentaerithrityl diphosphite.
The phosphonite of the formula VI is available commercially under the name Irgafos(copyright) P-EPQ from Ciba-Geigy.
Optionally, the stabilizer composition of the invention further comprises at least one primary, secondary or tertiary monoamine, e.g., of the formula N(R10)(R11)(R12), where R10, R11 and R12 each independently are hydrogen or C1 to C18alkyl which may be substituted by up to 5 nonadjacent oxygen atoms or groups of the formula xe2x80x94NR13xe2x80x94and/or substituted by 1, 2 or 3 hydroxyl groups, R13 being hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl, or phenyl, which may be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 C4-C18 alkyl groups, with the proviso that R10, R1 and R12 are not simultaneously hydrogen.
Examples of such amines that may be mentioned include the following: butylamine, dibutylamine, tributylamine, tripropylamine, triisopropylamine, octylamine, diisobutylamine, and stearylamine.
Preference is further given to amines having hydroxyl-containing radicals, e.g., ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, propanolamine, dipropanolamine, tripropanolamine, 15 isopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine, and, especially, triisopropanolamine.
The stabilizer composition of the invention generally comprises
from 30 to 40 parts by weight, preferably from 32 to 35 parts by weight of A),
from 30 to 40 parts by weight, preferably from 32 to 35 parts by weight of B),
rom 2 to 4 parts by weight, preferably from 2.5 to 3.5 parts by weight of C), and
from 25 to 35 parts by weight, preferably from 28 to 32 parts by weight of D).
If a primary, secondary or tertiary amine is included, it is preferably used in an amount of from 0.02 to 0.5, preferably from 0.04 to 0.2 part by weight.
The stabilizer composition of the invention is added to the organic material to be stabilized in a concentration of generally from 0.05 to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 2% by weight, in particular from 0.05 to 1% by weight, based on the organic material, prior to, during or after its production.
By nonliving organic material is meant, for example, cosmetic preparations, such as ointments and lotions, drug formulations, such as pills and suppositories, photographic recording materials, especially photographic emulsions, intermediates for plastics and coating compositions, but especially coating compositions and plastics themselves.
Plastics which may be stabilized by the stabilizer mixture of the invention are, for example, the following:
polymers of mono- and diolefins, such as low or high density polyethylene, polypropylene, linear poly-1-butene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and copolymers of mono- or diolefins or mixtures of said polymers;
polystyrene and copolymers of styrene or xcex1-methylstyrene with dienes and/or acrylic derivatives, such as styrene-butadiene, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), styrene-ethyl methacrylate, styrene-butadiene-ethyl acrylate, styrene-acrylonitrile-methacrylate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) or methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS); halogenated polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride and copolymers thereof;
polymers derived from xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated acids and their derivatives, such as polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides and polyacrylonitriles;
polymers derived from unsaturated alcohols and amines and/or from their acrylic derivatives or acetals, examples being polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate;
polyurethanes, polyamides, polyureas, polyphenylene ethers, polyesters, polycarbonates, polysulfones, polyether sulfones and polyether ketones.
The coating materials which may be stabilized with the stabilizer composition of the invention include paints, such as alkyd resin paints, emulsion paints, epoxy resin paints, polyurethane paints, acrylic resin paints, cellulose nitrate lacquers, or glazes, such as wood preservative glazes.
The stabilizer composition of the invention is particularly suitable for stabilizing polyurethanes, especially thermoplastic polyurethanes. These are predominantly linear polyurethanes obtained starting from diisocyanates, such as 4,4xe2x80x2-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane, and long-chain diols, such as polytetrahydrofuran or polyester polyols. The general procedure is to start from corresponding prepolymers and to use short-chain diols or diamines as chain extenders; the products obtained have a segmented composition, the soft segments having, for example, molecular masses of from 1000 to 3000 and being physically crosslinked by the hard segments.
The stabilizer composition of the invention may also be prepared in the form of a masterbatch, which comprises said composition in a concentration, for example, of from 2.5 to 25% by weight, and may be added in this form to the materials to be stabilized.


A head supporting device with a loading/unloading mechanism and a disk drive unit using the head supporting device. The head supporting device and a voice coil motor (VCM) make up a head actuator of the drive system. The head actuator has i) a support arm rotatable on a bearing, moving in directions along the radius of a recording medium and vertical to the surface of the medium; ii) a magnetically levitating head on a slider facing the medium; and iii) resilient member for applying force to the arm in a direction close to the medium. The VCM has a pair of yokes, a magnet, and a coil. When the head is lead to a head retracting position, the other end of the arm is pulled by the interaction of a magnetic member and the magnet at the resting position and adjacencies. This eases the load on the VCM, contributing to a compact and slim disk drive unit with toughness and rapid data-access.

In recent years, portable electronic equipment, such as Personal Digital Assistance (PDA) and mobile phones, has been rapidly expanding its market, and getting smaller in size. At the same time, a magnetic disk drive unit, which has become commonly used as a handy storage device, has been required to have smaller and thinner body with increased toughness against shocks. Responding to the need for the unit with high-impact-resistance, various attempts have been made to offer improvements in a head supporting mechanism of a magnetic disk drive unit.
For example, employing a L/UL mechanism for a disk drive unit has been recognized as an effective way for providing an impact-resistant disk drive unit. Magnetic disk drive unit 129, as shown in FIG. 7, has a head supporting device equipped with L/UL mechanism. Support arm 102 has guide 102a at its tip; and has magnetic head-mounted slider 101 in the proximity of the tip. Driven by spindle motor 105, magnetic recording medium 112 starts rotating. During the rotating, slider 101 mounting a magnetic head (not shown) thereon levitates at a position over medium 112 for data writing or reading. This state is the loading mode in the U/L mechanism.
On the other hand, when medium 112 stops rotating, support arm 102 rotates on rotation axis 103c and moves toward the outside of medium 112. The movement of arm support 102 is controlled by voice coil motor (hereinafter referred to as VCM) 124, which operates on interaction between voice coil 116 disposed at support arm 102 and, magnet 120 and yokes (not shown) that sandwich voice coil 116 via a clearance. Ramp 118 having tapered portion 118a is formed at the outside of medium 112. Driven by VCM 124, support arm 102 withdraws from the surface to take guide 102a onto ramp 118. This "withdrawal" allows slider 101 to keep off medium 112—the magnetic head is in the unloading mode. The head supporting device shown in FIG. 7 employs locking mechanism 130 using a piece of iron and a magnet for supporting the arm.
In magnetic disk drive unit 129 having the head supporting device as described above, the magnetic head is kept away from medium 112 during the unloading mode. The structure prevents the head and a medium against shocks from outside. Compared to other systems, the L/UL system has decreased the chance of mechanically or magnetically damaging medium 112 by collision with the head.
However, it is also true that the L/UL mechanism-employed disk drive unit has a problem to be tackled: a rather large sliding load. When guide 102a runs onto tapered portion 118a of ramp 118, the load on the arm due to the "landing" surpasses the half of torque required for the VCM. In a multi-disk structure having a number of heads, the built-up load has been a serious problem. Besides, downsized magnetic disk imposes limitations on the VCM components including the coil, the yoke, and the magnet: the number of turns of the coil reduces due to the thinned coil; the magnetic circuit formed of thinned VCM components cannot capture sufficient fluxes. Such inconvenience inevitably reduces the torque of the VCM.
It has therefore been a significant challenge for manufacturers to reduce the load on the VCM. Addressing to the inconvenience, there have been many suggestions to decrease the load developed in the unloading motion of the arm. The followings are the examples: i) in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP7334955, a ball bearing is disposed on the surface of the guide where the tapered portion comes in contact so as to decrease the coefficient of friction of the tapered portion and the guide of the arm; ii) in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP1196699, a piece of iron and a locking magnet are added to a coil-holding member of the VCM. Magnetic interaction between the iron piece and the locking magnet provides the arm with a smooth turn, thereby reducing the load on the VCM. At the same time, the suggestion includes a guiding-and-locking system for a rotary actuator to protect components of the unit from an impact generated in the process of the unloading motion.
Still, the two suggestions shown above have problems to be solved: as for the former suggestion described in i), it needs an extremely high technique to dispose the ball bearing in the tiny space of the guide at the tip of the support arm in such downsized disk drive unit, thereby automatically decreasing productivity. Besides, mounting an additional part on the tip of the arm lowers the resonance frequency of the arm. When the arm is moved at a high speed, the lowered resonance frequency generates undesired various vibration modes, which requires the disk drive unit a time to get settled. The fact has been an obstacle to rapid data access. As for the latter one described in ii), disposing an extra locking system not only introduces a complication on downsizing the magnetic disk drive unit but also increases the cost.
Prior-art head supporting devices including the two examples above have similar structures: the support arm rotating on a spindle moves the slider substantially parallel to the surface of the recording medium; a resilient member including a spring is disposed between the spindle and the arm, or between the arm and a head-supporting member to apply force to the slider; the force works on the slider to levitate it with a fixed interval from the surface of the medium. In the prior-art, it has never been discussed the possibility that a vertical movement of the arm with respect to the medium surface can reduce the load on the VCM. Manufacturers have not reached subtle solutions to the reduction of the load on the VCM.

Head supporting device and disk drive unit using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A baling press having a rectangular pressing space in which a pressing piston is movably disposed. The pressing space includes a crop material inlet in which the crop material to be pressed enters the pressing space from the feed channel. The material is pre-pressed in the pressing space by a compressing fork before it is forcefully inserted into the pressing space by a loading fork. The baling press further includes a sensor system which determines at least one value which represents the vertical distribution of the material and/or the vertical distribution of the density of said material, in the pressing space.

Various methods have been contemplated for controlling the overall consistency of compressed cropped material. For example, in European Patent EP 2,223,351 B1 to Strosser filed on May 9, 1986, entitled to "Electronic Device for Measuring and Controlling the Compacting of Crop Material," discloses an agricultural baling machine used to control the density of bales of crop material discharged as well monitor the stress experience by a reciprocally driven plunger assembly employed to apply a compactive force to crop material in a bale case. The Strosser reference further discloses a baling press with a pressing piston which is reciprocally movable in a pressing space by means of two vertically separated driving rods, which piston is connected to the driving rods via piston pins which are equipped with shear stress sensors. The baling press in this reference also has means of adjusting the pressure established in the pressing space by an associated mechanism, based on a value determined by the shear stress sensors.
Currently, there is a need for a baling press to provide optimal homogeneity in the bale produced by such a baling press on a consistent basis. To solve this problem, the present invention may be used. The present invention provides for a baling press having a rectangular pressing space in which a pressing piston is movably accommodated, and having a feed channel with a feed mechanism for compression of materials in the feed channel. Additionally, the feed channel conveys the compressed crop material into the pressing space, to enable production of homogeneous bales, particularly large rectangular bales. A sensor system is provided which can determine at least one value which represents the vertical distribution of the material in the pressing space (with respect to altitude in the pressing space).
The baling press can produce bales which are homogeneous in the vertical direction and have a substantially uniform density, because the sensor system determines at least one value which represents the vertical distribution of material and/or vertical variation of bale density, and by utilizing this value the baling press or components thereof (and the towing vehicle etc.) can be adjusted to produce the desired result. Such a baling press can be utilized in an industry to produce rectangular bales comprised of materials such as paper, textiles, or waste materials, or any other suitable materials. Preferably, however, the baling press is used for agricultural applications, particularly for producing large rectangular bales. The baling press may be towed by a towing vehicle or may be self-propelled.
The sensor system may optionally comprise at least two sensors, each of which determines a respective value, wherewith the difference between the sensor values is an indicator of the distribution of material. It is conceivable to provide several sensors, e.g. if it is desired to have a detailed indication of the distribution of material. The sensor system may comprise only a single sensor, e.g. configured to determine a vertical distribution of pressure on the pressing piston. An indicator can be generated from at least one sensor which is configured to evaluate a moment, e.g. in the pressing piston and/or in one or more guide means interacting with the piston, or in a drive means of the pressing piston. Such a determination of a moment by a suitable sensor allows one to make conclusions concerning the vertical distribution of the crop material in the pressing space.
From the point values determined by the sensors one has a difference representing the distribution of material when there is a separation between the sensors at least in the vertical direction. The sensors may also be separated in the horizontal direction in order to determine the distribution of material in the transverse (width) direction of the baling press.
If the sensors are disposed in a region of the pressing space which is directed toward the pressing piston, the distribution of material is determined in the region to which material was last added, so that the determined value represents a quite recent status. For example, the sensors in the sensor system may be disposed in the pressing space on the walls of the pressing space, or may be disposed on or in the pressing piston, or may interact directly or indirectly with the piston. Such arrangements also yield a determined value which represents a quite recent status of the machine.
The sensor may be in the form of pressure sensors. The pressure sensors may be disposed on a wall, or on two or more walls, of the pressing space, or on the ceiling floor of the pressing space. In the alternative, the pressure sensors may also be disposed on the pressing piston, particularly on the side thereof which is directed toward the material being pressed by the piston, so as to interact directly with the material being pressed. At least one sensor may be in the form of a length sensor, which may be disposed, in the pressing space on a wall of the pressing space, so as to determine movement of the material with respect to the pressing space (or with respect to the respective wall(s)). For this purpose, one may employ star wheel devices also known as finger wheel devices of a known type. Other mechanical or optical sensors, or any other suitable sensors, may be employed.
The sensor may interact directly or indirectly with the pressing piston, it may be disposed on or in the piston itself or on or in the drive means for the piston, in the alternative, the sensor may be disposed in one or more guide means which guide the piston, e.g. with respect to the pressing space, or in suitable fastening and connecting devices. The sensor may comprise or be a component of the device on or in which it is disposed. A suitable fastening or connecting device may, connect the pressing piston to a rod which drives the pressing piston or connects the piston to drive means, which rod may be or may comprise a device in the nature of a driving rod or connecting rod.
The sensor may be in the form of a force-measuring rod, which joins two or more components and determines the forces which occur at a given connecting location, the sensor may be a moment sensor, which determines a moment exerted directly or indirectly on an appropriate component. The sensor is disposed in the pressing piston, it may connect the pressing piston with, a rod, connecting rod, drive rod, or the like, wherewith preferably it may determine the stresses (particularly shear stresses) on the connection at a particular location, during a pressing stroke of the pressing piston. If a guide means has a sensor (independently of or supplementary to the sensor disposed in the pressing piston), that sensor may determine, a stress (a shear stress) or a moment acting on this guide means.
The sensor may be in the form of a strain-measuring or expansion-measuring strip. Such a strain-measuring or expansion-measuring strip may be disposed, on the pressing piston itself or on a rod connecting the piston to a drive means, or on a link rod, control lever, driving rod, or any other component which is suitable for determining a stress representing the vertical distribution of the material in the pressing space.
Conceivably, different types of sensors can be combined. Preferably, however, the sensors are of the same type, so that the sensor system will determine at least one stress difference, force difference, pressure difference, length difference, a moment or moment distribution, which directly or indirectly represents the distribution of the material in the pressing space.
The feed mechanism, by means of a feeding implement, such as a rake-like or pitchfork-like element, pre-presses the material, preferably in a pre-pressing chamber or feed channel, and conveys the material into the pressing space. Ordinarily, the feeding mechanism further includes a compressing fork which pre-presses the material, preferably in the feed channel, and a loading fork which loading fork conveys the pre-pressed material into the pressing space proper. Such an arrangement makes it possible, particularly with independent control of the two forks, to influence the compression of the material in the feed channel as a function of the value determined by the sensor system. This may occur by compressing the material more strongly in one region than in another if the sensor system in the region of the pressing space has indicated insufficient density or insufficient material distribution in said first region and in the material being charged there by the loading fork. For the design an operation of a baling press suitable for this purpose, reference may be made to another German patent application number 103 43 386.4, dated Sep. 19, 2003, entitled "Baling Press and Method", which is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.
It may be provided that the value is displayed to the operating individual by means of a video display device disposed on or in the baling press or on or in the towing vehicle, or is otherwise displayed, this enables the operator to adjust the baling press or to make an evaluation following an operating cycle. Direct means of influencing or controlling the baling press may be provided, by transmitting the value to a control device, preferably electrical or electronic, which is disposed on the baling press or on a towing vehicle which is connected to or connectable to the baling press, the control device then processes and utilizes said value.
It may be provided that the control device controls or regulates functions of the baling press and of the towing vehicle, specifically the speed of travel and direction of travel. In particular it is possible that the control device controls or regulates the feed mechanism or a movement of the loading fork of the compressing fork, depending on the value. In this connection, reference is again made to the German patent application number 102 43 386.4, which discloses a suitable baling press and a corresponding method of operation of such a baling press.
It is conceivable to influence the pressing space, a bale-pressing device in the pressing space, a speed of travel of the baling press or of a corresponding towing vehicle, the operation of the pressing piston, or other appropriate functions of the baling press or towing vehicle, depending on the value. If it is possible to change or set the volumetric content of the feed channel or the quantity of the pre-pressed material which will be conveyed into the pressing space by the loading fork, depending on the value, this capability can be exploited to compensate for non-uniform distribution of material, particularly over the altitude of the baling press. It is conceivable that such an adjustment of the feed channel and the volume may be made by an operating individual depending on the displayed value of the value or depending on a difference of such values over time. It is possible to make such adjustments automatically and thereby rapidly, by means of the electrical or electronic control device. In particular with the use of such a control device or with human-intermediated control, the adjustment can be made by causing the value determined by the feed mechanism and/or the sensor to approach a predetermined or predeterminable set-point value. Such a set-point value may be fixed or may vary depending on the material being pressed, the environmental conditions, the requirements, etc. The set-point value may be predetermined or may be established automatically. The density of material in the feed channel can be affected by setting or influencing a means of ascertaining the density of the material in the feed channel. Such a means may comprise a spring-loaded flap or grid which forms a region of the wall of the feed channel or which extends into said channel, the operation of such flap means may be influenced by adjusting the action of the spring or of another spring means or adjusting the position of such flap means with respect to the feed channel, and the values provided by said flap means may be appropriately processed by the control device, which may provide appropriate control of the feed mechanism.
It may further be provided that the feed channel has at least one movable wall, which is preferably swingable. The swinging or other adjustment of the wall may be employed to influence the volume of the feed channel, which may already have variations between its inlet region and exit region which can be larger or smaller inlet or exit region. In one embodiment, the wall can move around a central region wherein a non-central region is enlarged and another non-central region is constricted a single swinging of the wall to adjust to a difference in values determined by the sensor system.
It is possible to influence the volume of the feed channel, particularly the volume of the amount or portion of material which will be conveyed into the pressing space by the loading fork, if the entry position of the loading fork in the feed channel with respect to the longitudinal extent of said channel can be changed. Thus it may be provided that the entry location of the loading fork can be individually set for each loading stroke, or that a cyclical setting of the loading fork is set up depending on an average of several values. If the loading fork is inserted in the feed channel at a location which is closer to the material inlet than is a reference position, the amount or portion of material conveyed to the pressing space in the next loading stroke is smaller when the loading fork is inserted at a location farther from said material inlet; and vice versa.
Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the loading fork can be held in at least one position in which it at least substantially closes off the material inlet to the pressing space and in which it blocks a stream of material moving toward said material inlet. In this manner, the volume of the feed channel can be defined by the loading fork, whereby the amount of material in the feed channel and/or the compression density and the distribution of material or the distribution of the density of the material in the feed channel can be set and controlled. In this connection, the loading fork may be the sole means of closing off the material inlet. Also, in addition to or independently of the loading fork a retention device may be provided in the form of a retaining fork, per se known, which can be used to selectively close off said material inlet.
It may be provided that the loading fork can be positioned only at certain predetermined positions. In order to enable adjustment of the feed channel or the volume of material or the density of material or the distribution of material in the feed channel, the position with respect to the longitudinal extent of the feed channel can be settable or variable. The loading fork may be inserted at a location directly adjoining the material inlet, and at one or more positions in the feed channel which are at various distances from said material inlet.
The position and setting of the loading fork can be set by mechanical means, such as rods, linkages, levers, crank drives, etc., or by hydraulic means, such as hydraulic motors, or by other suitable mean or devices. In order to achieve the most accurate positioning, at least one sensor may be provided which determines the position and setting of the loading fork and preferably transmits such information to the control device.


A distributed process management system includes an edge server configured to start and execute a process corresponding to contents of data when the data sent from a device is received; and a center server configured to manage a state of the process, wherein the edge server is configured to notify the center server of a start time and an amount of processing of the process each time the process is started, and the center server is configured to estimate an end time of the process based on the start time and the amount of processing and update the end time of the process, each time the start time and the amount of processing are notified.

In a distributed system in which a management apparatus collects information related to a managed apparatus and allocates loads (tasks) to the managed apparatus, in a case where the management apparatus may not allocate loads due to a fault or other cause, there is a technology in which the managed apparatus takes charge of the management apparatus and allocates loads in place of the management apparatus (refer, for example, to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 8-123768). Further, as a manner of using a computer, there are cloud computing and edge computing, a derived form of cloud computing (refer, for example, to Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2015-505404).
Edge computing refers to a manner of usage in which another server closer to an end user (hereinafter referred to as an edge server) is provided in addition to a server equivalent to a cloud (hereinafter referred to as a center server). The edge server may distribute loads of the cloud. The edge server may suppress a delay caused by communication by performing processing for which a fast response is desirable in place of the cloud (refer, for example, to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2017-126238).
Incidentally, the edge server described above receives data (for example, sensing data) generated and sent by end users' devices. The end users' devices are not limited to personal computers (PCs) or smartphones and may be a variety of devices such as environmental sensors, beacon terminals, automobiles, and home electric appliances in recent years. When data sent from such devices is received, the edge server starts and executes a process that corresponds to contents of the data.
However, data received by the edge server has a tendency to expand with increasing attention being paid to Internet of Things (IoT). As a result, the number of processes started by the edge server is on the increase. On the other hand, the edge server often has fewer computer resources than the center server. Therefore, it is preferable that the center server manage states (for example, process start and end times) of the processes being executed by the edge servers for each edge server so as to control the edge servers executing the processes and distribute loads between the edge servers.
In a case where the center server manages the process state, for example, the edge server may send a message indicating the process state to the center server. However, with increase in number of processes, it is likely that the number of messages sent by the edge server may increase. In consideration of the above, it is desirable to suppress the number of messages between the edge server and the center server.

Distributed process management system, distributed process management method for suppressing number of messages between computers, and information processing apparatus


A plurality of primer sets are designed based on a region where conservation at the amino acid level is observed among various microorganisms for known gene sequences corresponding to a gene coding for an enzyme of the L-amino acid biosynthetic pathway derived from Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes, preferably an enzyme that functions at a higher temperature compared with that of Corynebacterium glutamicum. PCR is performed by using the primers and chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes as a template. The primers with which an amplification fragment has been obtained are used as primers for screening to select a clone containing a target DNA fragment from a plasmid library of chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes.

The current main stream of the production of L-amino acids such as L-glutamic acid is the fermentative production utilizing coryneform bacteria. As for the fermentative production of L-amino acids, it has been attempted to reduce the cost based on breeding of strains with superior productivity and development of fermentation techniques. Although conventional attempts for realizing the cost reduction were mainly directed to achieving higher yield, energy required for cooling the fermentation heat generated during the culture cannot be ignored in addition to the raw material as the factors concerning the fermentation cost. That is, as for usual microorganisms used for the fermentation, the temperature of the medium rises due to fermentation heat generated by the microorganism themselves during the fermentation, and hence enzymes required for the fermentation may be inactivated or the productive bacteria may be killed. Therefore, it is necessary to cool the medium during the fermentation. Accordingly, in order to reduce the cooling cost, fermentation at high temperatures has been studied for many years. Moreover, if high temperature fermentation becomes possible, the reaction rate may also be improved. However, as for the L-amino acid fermentation, effective high temperature culture has not been realized so far.
Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes is a bacterium classified into coryneform bacteria like Corynebacterium glutamicum (Brevibacterium lactofermentum), which is commonly used for the fermentation of L-amino acids. However, it shows the optimum growth temperature of 37–43° C., which is higher than that of Corynebacterium glutamicum, i.e., 30–35° C., and shows the optimum temperature for L-glutamic acid production of 42–45° C., which is considerably shifted to the high temperature region (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 63-240779/1988).
Meanwhile, there have been developed techniques for enhancing L-amino acid producing ability of Corynebacterium and Brevibacterium bacteria by introducing a gene coding for an L-amino acid synthesis system enzyme derived from Escherichia coli or Corynebacterium glutamicum into them. Examples of such an enzyme include, for example, citrate synthase (Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 7-121228/1995), which is an enzyme of the L-glutamic acid biosynthetic pathway, glutamate dehydrogenase (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 61-268185/1986), isocitrate dehydrogenase, aconitate hydratase (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 63-214189) and so forth.
However, any L-amino acid biosynthesis enzymes and genes coding for them derived from thermophilic coryneform bacteria have not been reported.

Genes for heat resistant enzymes of amino acid biosynthetic pathway derived from thermophilic coryneform bacteria


When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an imaging unit, an imaging apparatus, and a computer readable medium storing thereon an imaging control program.
2. Related Art
An imaging unit is known in which a back emission type imaging chip and a signal processing chip are connected via micro-bumps provided for each cell containing a group of pixels.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-49361
When the amplification ratio is low in a case where the incident light is strong and there is a large amount of charge, the signal retrieved from the regions where the incident light is weak is also weak. On the other hand, when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is limited to a narrow range.

Imaging unit, imaging apparatus, and computer readable medium storing thereon an imaging control program


The invention provides alternatives to traditional polycondensation processes for preparing copolymers. For example, in certain embodiments, the invention provides a process that includes an extrusion step and a solid state polymerization step to prepare high molecular weight block copolymer with a “hard block” contributed by a macrocyclic polyester oligomer (MPO) and a “soft block” contributed by a dihydroxyl-functionalized polymer, an oligoether, and/or a dimerized fatty acid (i.e. a polyol). The invention also provides new copolymer compositions made possible by the new processes—for example, copolymers of higher molecular weight, copolymers with higher weight ratio of soft block units to hard block units, copolymers made with higher molecular weight polyol, and copolymers with hard block units that are themselves random copolyesters of units contributed by a MPO and a cyclic ester.

Macrocyclic polyester oligomers (macrocyclic oligoesters, MPOs) have unique physical properties that facilitate the manufacture of polyester products. MPOs demonstrate certain processing advantages of thermosets, yet can be polymerized to form thermoplastic polyesters which provide superior toughness, excellent chemical resistance, high heat resistance, and are thermoformable, paintable, bondable, weldable, and recyclable. For example, MPO resins are available as easy-to-handle solid pellets that melt into a low viscosity fluid when heated. The low melt viscosity allows the MPO resin to easily fill molds or permeate fabrics to make prepregs. Furthermore, certain MPOs melt and polymerize at temperatures well below the melting point of the resulting polymer. Upon melting and in the presence of an appropriate catalyst, polymerization and crystallization can occur virtually isothermally, without significant heat generation and without production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other harmful emissions. The polymerized product can be released without cooling the mold, and the time and expense required to thermally cycle a tool is favorably reduced.
MPO can be polymerized to form a thermoplastic polyester via ring-opening polymerization at elevated temperature in the presence of an appropriate catalyst. A block copolymer having a "hard block" and a "soft block" can be formed, for example, by reacting an MPO such as cyclic poly(butylene terephthalate) (cPBT) with a dihydroxyl-functionalized polymer in a polycondensation process, as described in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,549 by Wang, the text of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Such block copolymers are useful, for example, in the manufacture of automotive body panels and chassis components, as well as aircraft wing skins.
However, commercial manufacture of block copolymer via polycondensation requires high capital investment in polycondensation reactors and associated process equipment. Most polycondensation systems are designed for high volume production of a single product, making it difficult to adapt such systems for low volume production, or for production of multiple products with fast changeover.
Furthermore, the manufacture of block copolymer via polycondensation can result in copolymer of insufficient molecular weight, particularly when using high loading levels of soft block reactant, such as dihydroxyl-functionalized polymer. This is likely due to the high concentration of species that act as chain stoppers in the polymerization reaction. Copolymers of higher molecular weight are desired because of their advantageous physical properties. For example, higher molecular weight copolymers generally exhibit increased strength. They also exhibit higher intrinsic viscosities and higher melt strength, and are therefore capable of being processed less expensively.
Moreover, the types and molecular weights of soft block reactants that can be used to produce block copolymers in polycondensation processes is limited due to miscibility problems. The soft block reactant (i.e. a polyol) must typically have molecular weight (Mw) less than 1000 g/mol to inhibit phase separation during the polymerization reaction. Most commercially-available dihydroxyl functionalized polymers have molecular weight below 1000 g/mol for this reason. Also, the weight percentage of the "soft block" component in the block copolymer must typically be kept low in order to sufficiently build up overall molecular weight of the block copolymer. However, this results in a block copolymer with overly-long hard block units. Moreover, highly polar hydroxyl-functionalized polymers are generally unusable in traditional polycondensation processes due to the increased miscibility problems they cause.
There is a need for methods of producing block copolymers whose structures and compositions can be better customized for a wider range of uses. For example, there is a need for manufacturing methods that produce block copolymers with desired physical and chemical properties such as chemical resistance, heat resistance, and high melting temperature (i.e. provided by the hard block), as well as toughness, hysteresis, and low modulus (i.e. provided by the soft block). In particular, methods are needed for manufacturing block copolymers with higher overall soft block content, as well as block copolymers with more highly polar soft blocks. Traditional polycondensation processes are limited in the type and amount of soft block component that can be incorporated into a block copolymer.
Furthermore, traditional polycondensation processes require high capital investment and are generally only designed for making one particular product in large quantities. Thus, there is also a need for block copolymer production methods that require lower capital investment, that can be adapted for high yields on small volume runs, and that allow for fast product changeover.

Processes for making copolymers using macrocyclic oligoesters, and copolymers therefrom


This invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a biosensor (7) and a control method which provides an efficient, clean and hygienic washing wherein the main water supply and washing water are microbiologically analyzed in the phases of the program, and the washing water temperature and circulation period are adjusted in each phase.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dishwasher and a control method which provide an efficient, clean and hygienic washing.
In addition to the cleaning of the washed appliances it is expected to be purified from the germs. Microbiologic pollution is caused by the microorganisms harmful both for the human health and the environment in natural spring waters or main water supply and the reproduction of the bacteria due to the waiting of the kitchen appliances in the dishwasher for cleansing. In the prior art, additive chemicals mixed with the washing and rinsing water and methods such as additional washing cycles and filtration have been used for the elimination of the harmful microorganisms. U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,559 is related to a method in which a precipitation prepared by means of sterilizing chemicals is given by water tub and water feeding units.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,118 is related to the solution and dispense of the sterilizing chemicals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,621 discloses a dishwasher in which the additional chemicals are not used for the purification of a reverse osmosis unit.
2. Summary of the Invention
The object of this invention is to provide a dishwasher and a control method which apply a washing program for microbiologically clean washing and analyze the washing water in certain cycles microbiologically during the program.

Dishwasher and corresponding control method


A cutting assembly for plastic film or other sheet wrapping material dispensers. The cutting assembly comprises a member having a length corresponding to the length of the dispenser box, and a U-shaped cross-section adapted to slip over the free edge of the front panel of the dispenser box. The member has a base web with one leg on the inside of the box and a second leg exposed on the outside of the box. The legs meet the web in curved shoulders, diverge downwardly and outwardly, and have extending flaps at their lower ends which are curved back internally of the U-shaped member to provide retainer edges which project angularly upward and inward of the U-shaped member to resist upward displacement of the member from the panel. The proportions of the inwardly curved flaps and the distance between them are such that there is no possibility of the leg or legs of one cutting blade interlocking with the leg or legs of another cutting blade. The open distance between the inwardly curved flaps is somewhat less than the thickness of the panel, and is substantially less than the width of the web, so that the web of one member cannot become interlocked between the legs of other members. The base web of the blade has a flat medial portion, extending between the legs and supporting the teeth.

The present invention relates to cutting blades for cutting sheet wrapping materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to cutting blades used to sever plastic film or other sheet wrapping material that is dispensed from a roll package.
Plastic film or other sheet wrapping material is widely used throughout the food industry to wrap or cover various food products. The plastic film or other sheet wrapping material is typically dispensed from a roll contained in a box. Whenever a piece of plastic film or other sheet wrapping material is required, the length of the plastic film or other sheet wrapping material is withdrawn from the box and cut to length by a cutting blade that is attached to the front panel of the box.
The cutting blade commonly used for many years has been a thin metallic saw-toothed blade having cutting points extending along the exposed edge of the blade. Although the points of the cutting blade can nick or cut the user, the real risk to the user results from the cutting blade being made from a thin strip of metal. Just as a piece of paper can cause a cut, the edge of a thin strip of metal, with or without saw-toothed points, can cut. Any exposed edge of the metal strip presents a hazard.
The cutting blades illustrated in my earlier patents (identified above) reduced the risk of injury from the teeth and/or paper cuts from the free edges of the cutter strip.
Cutting blades in the shape illustrated in FIG. 10 of my U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,360 are mass produced as individual pieces, bulk packed and shipped to the manufacturer of plastic film packaged products. This latter manufacturer must remove an individual blade from the bulk shipping container and assemble it to, or loosely deposit it in, the box holding the film. In the shipping container, the prior blades tend to nest or become interlocked with each other and must be manually separated prior to putting them in or on the box.
In the present invention, a cutting blade for cutting plastic film or other sheet wrapping material is provided which not only reduces the risk of inadvertent cuts to the users or other handlers of the blade but also prevents nesting or interlocking of the blades when they are packed in bulk for shipment to the manufacturer.
The cutting blade may be engaged on the box during completion of the packaging operation by the manufacturer of the wrapping material, or may be deposited in the box by the manufacturer, and thereafter be engaged on the box by the user. The cutting blade allows a user to withdraw a length of sheet wrapping material, such as plastic film material from the box, and cut the sheet wrapping material to length without serious risk of injury to the user. The cutting blade has two parallel longitudinally elongated shoulders connected by a web having a central portion in the form of a substantially flat surface. The longitudinally-elongated shoulders comprise arcuate shoulders extending along the opposite sides of the central portion, and a row of teeth project from the flat surface midway between the sides, so that the row of teeth is parallel to the shoulders and projects upwardly between the shoulders.
The teeth are limited in height and in the preferred embodiment are positioned with roots substantially in the plane of the flat surface, and tips projecting above the plane by a small fraction of the width of the web between its elongated shoulders. The limited projection of the teeth above the plane of the web reduces the ability of the tips to inadvertently cut the user.

Cutting blade for cutting sheet wrapping materials


A process for the predictive determination in the pre-critical range of the load at rupture of a structure, comprising subjecting the structure to a stress of the same type as the load and for a time according to a predetermined law, whilst recording the acoustical activity generated by the resulting damage, until a predetermined stress threshold is reached. A correlation is maintained between the registered acoustic emission and the relation ##EQU1## in which: ##EQU2## is the variation of acoustic energy generated by the damage, t is time,. t.sub.r is the instant of rupture, .DELTA., .alpha., C, .lambda. and .phi. are coefficients, so as to predetermine the value of prediction of the load at rupture from the above law connecting time and load.

By structure is meant a finished material body, homogeneous or heterogeneous, designed to resist predetermined physical stresses which will be called "load", simple or combined, the invention seeking to predict the limit of resistance of said body relative to said charge.
Although the invention is susceptible to uses in many structures, it will be described as to its application for the inspection of storage reservoirs of gas under high pressure and more particularly still to the inspection of reservoirs made of composite material wound on a metallic liner.
Such reservoirs, generally spherical, adapted to resist internal pressures which can reach or exceed 800 bars, are subjected to non-destructive inspection among which is inspection by acoustic emission.
This technique, which seeks to inspect the soundness of the metal and of the composite material, consists in subjecting the reservoir to be tested to a predetermined applied pressure, which gives rise in the materials to microscopic irreversible damage whose appearance releases energy in thermal or acoustic form. Only the acoustical energy, which is more easily usable, is detected by the aid of piezoelectric detectors and permits detecting any incipient fault.
Thus, in the course of a test cycle by a monotone increasing from one pressure to a maximum predetermined pressure, typically the rated pressure, which is to say 1.5 times the service pressure of said reservoir, the acoustic emissions are recorded.
The use of these acoustic emissions permits, starting from preestablished criteria, certifying the reservoir to be safe or unsafe to fulfill its purpose.
It is evident that this technique, if it permits detecting or even localizing in the reservoir under test the faults, gives no indication of the effective value of the pressure at rupture, necessarily beyond the rated pressure.
Until now, there existed no inspection that quantifies for each reservoir the foreseeable level of pressure at rupture, which requires, for the sake of safety, using safety coefficients leading inevitably to overdimensioning. However, this overdimensioning gives rise in particular for structures of costly material, such as the reservoirs described above, for aeronautical or space use, to increases of weight and of undesirable cost.
So as to reduce this overdimensioning whilst increasing the safety of use of such structures, the applicant has already proposed in French FR-A-2 715 731, a non-destructive technique for the precise individual evaluation of each structure as to its effective limit of resistance to stresses which must be borne and in consideration of which it has been designed and produced.
In the field of pressure resistance of structures such as reservoirs of composite material wound on a metallic liner, one generally distinguishes three regimes in the course of increase of monotone pressure from zero to rupture of the structure, with the rupture pressure designated Pr.
Up to a value of pressure, very roughly fixed at 0.7 Pr, is located a so-called diffuse regime in which there is no display in the structure under test of interactions or correlations between eventual damage, such that no law can be established linking such damage, which renders impossible any prediction of the value Pr.
Beyond this first regime, and up to a value equal approximately to 0.95 Pr, there is a second regime called pre-critical, in which appear interactions between damage, having a spatial and temporal coherence. This is the beginning of a so-called cooperative process.
Finally, beyond the pre-critical regime and up to rupture of the structure, there is a third so-called critical regime, in which the interactions between damage are generalized and, by said cooperative process, lead to destruction of the structure.
In FR-A-2 715 731 there is described a process for the predictive determination of the load at rupture, using a power law taking account of the correlations between damage but essentially when these latter are in the totally cooperative process leading to rupture. Stated otherwise, the procedure cannot give really pertinent and reliable data as to the load at rupture of the structure under test except in the critical regime, which requires bringing the test pressure of the structure into the region near the rupture pressure.
However, this can give rise to a decrease in the rupture pressure Pr because of reaching a test pressure relatively near Pr is adapted to give rise to damage rendering the structure fragile, which is to say having consequences on the strength under pressure, thus lowering the value of Pr.
It is therefore desirable to reduce as much as possible the maximum test pressure for each structure.

Process for the predictive determination in the precritical regime of the load at rupture of a structure

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


A high speed mass flow food sorting apparatus and method comprises a product conveyor for receiving and conveying a laterally-distributed stream of bulk food articles past a product diverter. A camera is positioned to view the stream of food articles upstream of a product diverter. A sorting system downstream of the camera including a product diverter is configured to divert undesirable product in response to optically detected undesirable characteristics pursuant to an automated control system. The automated control system connects to the optical inspection system and the sorting system and includes an operator control console having a display and a screen-adjustable graphical slider usable for altering sorting characteristics corresponding to an undesirable optically detected characteristic so as to direct sorting of the undesirable food article during processing. Preferably, the operator control console displays a graphical user interface via a computer on which the control system is implemented and includes a software application pack specifically configured for processing a particular type of food article having corresponding desirable features, at least one having a corresponding screen-adjustable scaling image.

In manufacturing and processing environments, it is common to optically inspect and sort individual moving articles with automatic optical inspection equipment. Particularly, where high speed belt conveyors move a mass flow of bulk products or articles past an inspection station, the optical inspection equipment can determine optical properties of the articles, and undesirable articles can be separated from the flow with sorting equipment. In many cases, a general sorting system incorporates some form of basic image-processing capabilities. One area where it is especially important to optically inspect and sort a moving stream of bulk products is in the food-processing industry where there is a need to automatically sort food products by visual or optical inspection of the food products to identify food articles having specified desirable or undesirable visual characteristics. Examples include fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Other areas requiring a similar sorting of bulk products or articles includes the sorting of naturally occurring products such as wood chips and aggregate, of manufactured products such as fasteners and formed parts, and of meat products, particularly of quartered or cubed poultry or beef products.
One very effective optical inspection and sorting system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,632 granted in 1986 (reissued on Sep. 25, 1990 as RE 33,357), assigned to Key Technology, Inc. of Walla Walla, Wash. In such systems, defective products are detected and removed based upon their optical characteristics. Key Technology manufactures and sells a variety of optical-based sorting systems, including systems utilizing color-inspection cameras. Typically, a high speed conveyor belt conveys a wide swath of food articles past an automatic optical-inspection station. An inspection station is provided relative to a random lateral distribution of individual food articles conveyed by the belt. The inspection station identifies undesirable or defective articles and removes them from the product flow.
Technological advances and increasing market demands are resulting in the development of sophisticated sorting machines offering high-resolution true-color Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) cameras and powerful image-processing engines of ever-increasing complexity. This has resulted in concomitant increases in complexity and a corresponding increase in the demands placed on an operator attempting to set up and calibrate a machine for a particular sorting task.
The evolving complexity of sorting systems is further compounded by the fact that most sorting systems, particularly those utilized in the food-processing industry, employ machine operators who have little or no image-processing or machine-vision expertise, and who very often are illiterate. It becomes a daunting challenge for one of these operators to attempt to use any form of general sorting system, let alone a state-of-the-art sorting system.
To lower manufacturing and support costs, sorter-manufacturing companies want to offer a single, generic, do-everything sorting machine that can process a nearly unlimited variety of products. Thus, food-processing plants have not been able to purchase highly specialized sorting machines that are customized or uniquely configured for their specific products. They have typically purchased one of the available generic sorting machines and then did their best to tailor it for their application. Thus, the burden of machine configuration, initialization, and control has been placed squarely on the operator. As newer and more complex sorting machines become available, this burden will be too much for most operators to handle, thereby reducing sorting performance to a level that is not optimal and far below the potential possessed by these newer machines.
Increasingly complex sorting machines generate two parallel needs. The first need is a method for operating such a machine that hides the complexity of the machine from operators while at the same time provides a straightforward way for them to fully utilize the potential of the machine. The second need is an easy-to-use method for allowing an operator to custom-configure the machine for his particular product. This might include tailoring the machine's operator interface to use terms and jargon that are specific to the product being sorted and thus familiar to machine operators as well.
Adding significant complexity to the latest sorting machines are the image-processing capabilities required to properly identify defective pieces based on their color, shape, and/or size, or the locations of defective areas on them. An example of such image-processing capabilities is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,293, also assigned to Key Technology, Inc., hereinafter incorporated by reference. This patent describes an automated quality inspection station for inspecting food products whose quality can be visually ascertained, for classifying component areas of the products being inspected, and for setting process parameters of in-line processing equipment based on the classifications. Video image scans are captured with a frame grabber after which a processor analyzes data stored in the frame to extract color-, shape-, and/or size-related information. In this manner, video images are first characterized based on classification of color values established in a sample calibration pursuant to a determination of the probability of any single color value occurring in a single component type of defect versus any other type of component defect. Then, contiguous groups of similarly characterized pixels are analyzed for shape- and/or size-related information using multi-stage morphological filters and feature-extraction algorithms. Based on this analysis, each individual product piece is classified in either the acceptable category or one of possibly several defective categories.
With the color-characterization technique described above, an operator first identifies samples of pixels for each defect type, then reference curves are automatically created from these samples, and then the operator specifies and adjusts probability scaling factors which are used to scale these reference curves. Each curve represents the probability of a single color value occurring in any single component defect type relative to other defect types. However, correct operation of this system depends significantly upon operator initialization and adjustments. Additionally, a system may have the potential for recognizing millions of different colors, making this aspect of system initialization somewhat complex for an operator.
Fine-tuning of a sorter with the image-processing capabilities described above requires some degree of manual adjustment of a plurality of interacting sorting parameters. Therefore, in order to correctly configure and initialize an optical sorting system, an experienced and capable operator becomes a requirement. Since such an operator is often not available, optimum sorting results are frequently not obtained. Furthermore, when attempting to produce a single machine capable of being reconfigured for a variety of products, additional ambiguities often arise requiring substantially greater configuration and initialization time and complexity at the operator interface. Many of these ambiguities arise even among the characteristics of a common product. For example, when sorting peas with a sorting device, the setup of the machine can become overwhelming because of the variable nature of the incoming product, data-processing constraints, imperfections in obtaining the data upon which decisions are based, and the imprecise manner in which defective articles are separated from the product stream in many sorting devices. These machines often involve trade-offs and compromises for an operator even when attempting to determine optimum operating settings. Hence, the operator's job becomes overly complex not only for setting up sorts between different products, but also for setting up accurate sorts for a particular product.
Therefore, in light of all of the recent developments in sorting systems, there is a need to greatly simplify the operator interface requirements for configuration, initialization, and operation of sorting machines for specific products. Even for sorting applications requiring only the most basic image-processing capabilities, this need is evident. For those applications requiring more advanced image-processing algorithms, this need is magnified. A simple operator interface on a sorting machine should harness the power and sophistication of the sorting machine while protecting the operator from having to understand its inner complexities.
The invention described below provides a method and apparatus for facilitating the configuration and initialization involved in customizing a highly complex sorting machine for specific products and simplifying the operator interface of the sorting machine to hide complexity. In addition, the methods described below adapt themselves to simple adjustments of a plethora of complex sorting parameters when sorting specific products.

High speed mass flow food sorting apparatus for optically inspecting and sorting bulk food products


A gain measurement circuit of a receiver includes a frequency mixer that receives a reception signal, mixes the reception signal with a local signal from an oscillator, and outputs an intermediate frequency signal; and a phase controller that extracts a part of the local signal, sets a different phase for the part, and outputs the part as the reception signal; wherein, for the different phase set by the phase controller, a direct-current voltage of the intermediate frequency signal output from the frequency mixer is detected, a conversion gain of the frequency mixer is obtained, and a gain of the receiver is calculated.

In recent years, systems using radio-frequency signals of a millimeter wave band (30 GHz to 300 GHz) such as, for example, car-mounted radar apparatuses or broad-band wireless LAN (local area network) devices have been provided. More specifically, car-mounted radar apparatuses use, for example, 77 GHz radio-frequency signals.
Recent semiconductor integrated circuits (IC) incorporate the BIST (built-in self-test) function, which inspects its own performance to reduce the cost for a pre-delivery inspection.
For ICs included in the above systems using radio-frequency signals of a millimeter wave band, however, an external measurement instrument such as a spectrum analyzer has to be used to measure, for example, the gain of a receiver, so it is difficult to reduce the cost for the inspection.
Conventionally, various ICs that, for example, inspect the performance of a receiver, perform demodulation at high precision, and are applicable to systems using radio-frequency signals of a millimeter wave band have been proposed.    [Patent document] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-071914    [Patent document] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-278896
As described above, an external measurement instrument such as a spectrum analyzer is used to measure the gain of a millimeter wave band receiver, thereby increasing the cost for, for example, a pre-delivery inspection.
The measurement of the gain of a receiver is useful not only for a pre-delivery inspection of an IC, but also for the power-on and use of an apparatus including the IC. That is, it is possible to install the automatic gain control function, which controls the gain of a receiver to a certain value, because the gain of the receiver is measured.

Gain measurement circuit, gain measurement method, and communication apparatus


A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of transistors and an electrically insulating layer provided between the substrate and the plurality of transistors, and a trench isolation structure including a portion between a first and a second island of the semiconductor structure and extending into the substrate to a first depth. The substrate includes a bottom region having a first type of doping and extending at least to a second depth greater than the first depth, and a deep well region having a second type of doping and extending to a third depth greater than the first depth and smaller than the second depth. Each of the first and second islands includes a first backgate region having the first type of doping and being continuous with the bottom region and a second backgate region having the second type of doping and being continuous with the deep well region.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the present disclosure relates to integrated circuits and methods for the formation thereof, and, in particular, to integrated circuits including field effect transistors that are provided over backgate regions and methods for the formation thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits include a large number of circuit elements which include, in particular, field effect transistors. In a field effect transistor, a gate electrode is provided that may be separated from a channel region by a gate insulation layer providing an electrical insulation between the gate electrode and the channel region. Adjacent the channel region, a source region and a drain region are formed, which are doped differently than the channel region.
Integrated circuits including field effect transistors may be formed in accordance with the semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) technology, wherein the source, channel and drain regions of the transistors are formed in a thin semiconductor layer that is separated from a support substrate, which may be a semiconductor substrate, for example a silicon wafer or die, by an electrically insulating layer, which may be a silicon dioxide layer. SOI technology may have some advantages associated therewith, which include a reduced power consumption of an SOI integrated circuit compared to a bulk semiconductor integrated circuit having the same performance.
Additionally, SOI technology may allow doped backgate regions in the support substrate below the electrically insulating layer that separates the support substrate from the semiconductor material of the source, channel and drain regions of the transistors. The type of doping and the dopant concentration in a backgate region provided below a transistor can have an influence on the threshold voltage of the transistor that needs to be applied to the gate electrode of the transistor for switching the transistor between an on-state wherein the transistor has a relatively high electrical conductivity and an off-state. Additionally, the threshold voltage of the transistor can be influenced by applying a bias voltage to the backgate region.
The threshold voltage of a field effect transistor may be related to a leakage current that flows through the transistor in the off-state. Typically, a lower threshold voltage is associated with an increased leakage current, and vice versa. Lowering the threshold voltage of the field effect transistors in an integrated circuit may help to increase the speed of operation of logic gates wherein the transistors are provided, whereas a reduction of the leakage current may help to reduce power consumption.
Grenouillet et al., "UTBB FDSOI transistors with dual STI for a multi-Vt strategy at 20 nm node and below," IEEE Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), pages 3.6.1 to 3.6.4, 2012, discloses providing P-doped well regions in the support substrate of an SOI integrated circuit. The P-doped well regions are separated from each other by deep trenches. Above each of the P-doped well regions, either N-channel field effect transistors or P-channel field effect transistors are provided, wherein the electrically insulating layer of the SOI structure is provided between the transistors and the P-doped wells. Below the P-doped wells, an N-doped deep well is provided. Additionally, in the P-doped wells, shallow N-doped backgate regions may be provided. Contacts are provided, which allow applying voltages to the deep N-doped well, the P-doped wells and the shallow N-doped backgate regions.
However, the solution described by Grenouillet et. al. has some issues associated therewith. Due to the contacts provided to the P-doped wells and to the shallow N-doped backgate regions in the wells, a large number of contacts needs to be provided, which can significantly increase the area required by the integrated circuit and can reduce the transistor density of the integrated circuit.
Furthermore, the shallow N-doped backgate regions are formed by means of ion implantation, wherein a counterdoping scheme is used, i.e., the shallow N-doped backgate regions are initially doped with the P-doping of the P-doped wells. Accordingly, a relatively high density of N-type dopants may be required for reversing the polarity of the shallow N-doped backgate regions. Accordingly, the implants for forming the shallow N-doped backgate regions may require relatively high doses, so that the total number of ions passing through the surface and the electrically insulating layer of the SOI structure may be about twice that which would be required to just dope the shallow N-doped backgate regions. Accordingly, a number of damages caused by the ions may be increased.
Furthermore, the design of an integrated circuit as described by Grenouillet et. al. may require additional routing for providing electrical connections to contacts to the shallow N-doped backgate regions and the P-doped wells.
The present disclosure provides semiconductor structures and methods that may help to overcome or at least reduce some or all of the above-mentioned issues of the prior art.

Semiconductor structure including backgate regions and method for the formation thereof


An absorbable iron-based device includes an iron-based matrix and degradable polyester in contact with the surface of the iron-based matrix. The mass fraction of a low-molecular-weight part of the degradable polyester is less than or equal to 5%, and the molecular weight of the low-molecular-weight part is less than 10,000; or the mass fraction of a residual monomer in the degradable polyester is less than or equal to 2%.

As a vital element in a human body, iron takes part in numerous biochemical processes. An implantable device made of pure iron or an iron-based alloy may be gradually corroded and absorbed by human body after being implanted into human body, which is safer and more reliable and may effectively avoid long-term adverse reactions caused by long-time retention of a permanent implant in the human body, such as late restenosis, inflammatory reaction and failure of secondary intervention at the site where the implant is located.
The iron-based device is corroded slowly in an environment of an organism, and accelerated corrosion of the iron-based device may be realized by applying degradable polyester to its surface. The principle of accelerating the corrosion of the iron-based device with the use of the degradable polyester is that: in the early stage of an iron-based device containing degradable polyester implanted into the organism, soluble oligomers and residual monomers in the degradable polyester are released to form a local weak-acid environment around an iron-based substrate, thus accelerating localized corrosion of the iron-based substrate and degradation of the degradable polyester. In addition, a low molecular weight portion of the degradable polyester also may be degraded fast to a soluble oligomer or monomer, thus further accelerating the localized corrosion of the iron-based substrate and the degradation of the degradable polyester.
The corrosion of the iron-based device is not uniform because of the material composition, structure and size of the iron-based substrate, and loading stress. The iron-based device will generally complete endothelialization within one month after being implanted into a patient. So, it is clinically required that the device may at least keep an intact framework structure and have relatively high early mechanical properties within 1 month after implantation. Generally, the mild non-uniform corrosion of the iron-based device would not cause serious consequences, such as local fracture and collapse of a supporting structure, within one month after implantation. However, the degradable polyester applied to the surface of the iron-based device may increase the non-uniformity degree of the corrosion of the iron-based device, which possibly leads to local fracture of the iron-based device and affects the mechanical property of the iron-based device in the early stage after implantation. In addition, the non-uniform corrosion would cause corrosion products to accumulate locally around the iron-based device, and a biological abnormity would probably occur in the human tissue in contact with the site, which gives rise to a biological safety risk.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of fabricating logic transistors using replacement metal gate (RMG) logic flow with modified process to form recessed channel array transistors (RCAT) on a common semiconductor substrate. An embodiment comprises forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first recess in the ILD layer of a first substrate region, forming a recessed channel in the ILD layer and in the substrate of a second substrate region, depositing a first conformal high-k dielectric layer in the first recess and a second conformal high-k dielectric layer in the recessed channel, and filling the first recess with a first gate metal and the recessed channel with a second gate metal.

Modern semiconductor devices are typically packed with higher density of transistors and transistors with shorter channel (gate) lengths to increase the operating speed and performance of the devices. Short channel effects exhibited by modern semiconductor devices typically limit the performance of the devices. Transistors with higher channel lengths are typically designed to mitigate the short channel effects and off-current leakage. However, such design typically requires larger pitch size between transistors and compromises high die area utilization.
Recessed channel array transistors (RCAT) have typically been used where low leakage or low variation of current leakage is critical, such as in analog and memory devices. A RCAT typically demonstrates better short channel effects relative to conventional transistors, such as non-planar (logic) and multi-gate transistor devices. Compared to a conventional transistor having the same layout gate lengths a RCAT typically includes a longer effective gate length, and significantly lower subthreshold slope (SS) and drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) voltages, hence lower off-current leakage and a more controllable voltage variation.

Recessed channel array transistor (RCAT) in replacement metal gate (RMG) logic flow


A flexible printed circuit board includes: a base film; a first circuit pattern disposed on an upper surface of the base film; a second circuit pattern disposed on a lower surface of the base film; and a boundary reinforcing pattern expanding the first circuit pattern in a width direction of the first circuit pattern based on a virtual boundary along which the first circuit pattern and the second circuit pattern meet each other in an overlay of the first circuit pattern and the second circuit pattern.

Recently, as electronic devices such as foldable mobile phones and tablets appear, there is a need for a flexible printed circuit board that is bendable and/or foldable.
In order to implement an electronic device including a flexible display capable of being bent, folded, or the like hundreds of thousands of times, the flexible printed circuit board is required to not only be thin and light but also durable. In a situation in which internal components constituting the flexible printed circuit board are thin, if repeated external forces are continuously applied to the flexible printed circuit board, pattern cracks occur along patterns of conductive wires in the flexible printed circuit board.

Flexible printed circuit board and electronic device including the same


In an image forming apparatus for forming an image in accordance with control codes stored in a plurality of memory media, when the control codes stored in the plurality of memory media to control the image forming apparatus is rewritten, rewrite execution codes adapted to execute rewrite of the control codes are transferred to predetermined one of the plurality of memory media from an external apparatus, and rewrite of the control codes is performed in accordance with the transferred rewrite execution codes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus forming an image in accordance with control codes stored in a memory medium, and a rewrite control method for the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, memory media such as ROMs (Read Only Memories) have been employed as memory means for storing control codes used for control of image forming apparatus. Rewritable memory media such as flash ROMs have also been employed in recent years. Control codes are rewritable by transferring data to such a rewritable memory medium from an external apparatus, e.g., a host computer.
In the conventional techniques, however, a rewrite process must have been carried out for a plurality of flash ROMs for completing rewrite, and a large amount of download programs have been required to be written in the ROMs or the like. Therefore, programs are more likely to contain bugs, and if bugs are found in ROMs or the like, those ROMs must be replaced. This has accompanied the problem of imposing a large load on rewrite work.
Also, the conventional techniques have had another problem in the rewrite process. Because of an interrupt area being used in common to image forming control, an interrupt area dedicated for the rewrite process cannot be secured. Accordingly, it is indispensable to monitor at all times whether data is transmitted from an external apparatus, meaning that the rewrite process takes a longer period of time.
Meanwhile, it is also known to store a rewrite program, which is necessary for carrying out rewrite of control programs transmitted from an external apparatus, not in a flash ROM where information slightly tends to be unstable, but in a ROM.
In such a case, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executes various processes while controlling respective components in accordance with the rewrite program preset in a ROM.
Control programs are stored in a nonvolatile readable/writable ROM, allowing new control programs to be written in that ROM. On the other hand, a rewrite program used for down-loading the control programs is fixedly held in a memory medium which is not updated. In other words, changes of the rewrite program have not been taken into consideration.
As an example of the situation described above, in copying machines, printers and so on, control programs have been stored in a nonvolatile EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM) or a mask ROM, but it has become common that a flash ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), etc., which are nonvolatile memories being readable and writable on-board, are employed so that the rewrite program can be updated without replacing the ROM by a new one when addition of functions or version-up of an application program will be necessary in future.
More specifically, when the rewrite program in a flash ROM is updated, a new rewrite program is down-loaded into the flash ROM from a host computer, a CD-ROM drive, a floppy drive or the like which is connected to an image forming apparatus.
To this end, communication means is provided in the image forming apparatus, and a rewrite download program adapted for the image forming apparatus is held in a memory medium which is disposed in the apparatus and not updated.
In the conventional image forming apparatus, however, because the rewrite download program is fixedly held, control programs to be down-loaded have been restricted by the rewrite download program.
Further, because a manner of down-loading control programs is also determined by the rewrite download program, flexibility in a manner of download is small; hence it has been difficult to perform efficient download.
In the above method, for example, changing addresses of a ROM, into which control programs are to be down-loaded, has not been taken into consideration, and new control programs are down-loaded within the range of an address area originally assigned for the control programs in advance. Accordingly, if new control programs which are different in, e.g., assignment address area from the original control programs are down-loaded, the rewrite download program built in the image forming apparatus and the download application operating on the host computer cannot be utilized due to a difference in address configuration. In such a case, the ROM storing the rewrite download program must be replaced and hence the efficiency of rewrite work is lowered.
Additionally, where the rewrite download program is stored in a memory medium (e.g., a mask ROM) which is disposed in the image forming apparatus and not updated, that ROM must be replaced if there occurs any failure in the rewrite download program.

Image forming apparatus having control codes and rewrite control method for the same


A hydraulic torque-coupling assembly that includes a pressure relief valve with an annular solenoid actuator assembly that moves axially to engage an annular valve actuator ring to selectively close a pressure relief valve disposed on the outer face of a torque-coupling case. The annular solenoid assembly does not include a conventional armature so that the coil portion of the solenoid actuator assembly moves into and out of engagement with the annular valve actuator ring. The valve actuator ring rotates with the torque-coupling case, however, the solenoid assembly does not rotate. The valve actuator ring and solenoid assembly are mounted outside the differential case. A variable amount of electrical current is applied to the solenoid assembly so that the release pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly is selectively based on the magnitude of an electric current supplied to the solenoid assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to torque coupling assemblies for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a torque coupling assembly having an electronically controlled hydraulic actuator including an electromagnetically actuated variable pressure relief valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hydraulic couplings are used in various vehicular drivetrain applications to limit slip and transfer drive torque between a pair of rotary members. In all-wheel drive applications, hydraulic couplings are used to automatically control the drive torque transferred from a driven member to a non-driven member in response to speed differentiation therebetween. In limited slip applications, couplings are used in association with a differential to automatically limit slip and bias the torque distribution between a pair of rotary members.
Such hydraulic couplings conventionally use a frictional clutch between the rotary members. The frictional clutch may be selectively actuated by various hydraulic actuator assemblies, which are constructed of elements disposed inside the differential casing. The hydraulic actuator assemblies internal to a torque-coupling case often include displacement pumps disposed inside the torque-coupling case and actuated in response to a relative rotation between the torque-coupling case and the output shaft. The displacement pumps are usually in the form of internal gear pumps, such as gerotor pumps adapted to convert rotational work to hydraulic work. In the internal gear pumps, an inner gear having outwardly directed teeth cooperates with an external gear having inwardly directed teeth so that fluid chambers therebetween increase and decrease in volume as the inner and outer gears rotate in a housing.
While known hydraulic couplings, including but not limited to those discussed above, have proven to be acceptable for various vehicular driveline applications, such devices are nevertheless susceptible to improvements that may enhance their performance and cost. With this in mind, a need exists to develop improved hydraulic torque-coupling assemblies that advance the art.