A cathode structure and an electron gun for a CRT adopting the same are provided. The cathode structure has an external case, an insulating member filled in the external case, a plurality of pins fixedly inserted into the insulating member and of which end portions extend from the upper surface of the insulating member, a field emission device (FED) unit attached on the insulating member, and a wire for electrically connecting the FED unit to the end portions of the pins. Electrons are emitted by a field effect rather than by thermal electron emission.

The present invention relates to a cathode structure being an electron emitting source, and an electron gun adopting the same, for a cathode ray tube (CRT).
In general, a CRT is provided with a panel 100 having a fluorescent film 400 formed on the inner surface thereof, and a funnel 200 which is attached to the panel 100 and includes a neck portion 201 having an electron gun 300 installed therein, and a coned portion 202 having a deflection yoke 203 installed there around, as shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 301 denotes a support for supporting the electron gun 300.
In the CRT as constituted above, an electron beam emitted from the electron gun 300 is deflected by the deflection yoke 203 and projected onto the fluorescent film 400, thereby exciting a fluorescent material thereon to form an image.
The structure of the electron gun 300 installed in the neck portion 201 of the funnel 200 for emitting electrons is shown in FIG. 2. The electron gun 300 has a glass bead 11, a cathode structure 310 fixed to the bead glasses 11 for emitting an electron beam, a control electrode 14, a screen electrode 15, and a focus electrode 16 and a final accelerating electrode 17 which are sequentially installed from the screen electrodes 15 and form an electron lens.
Electrons are emitted from the cathode structure 310 by applying a predetermined voltage to each electrode and the cathode structure 310 of the thus-constituted electron gun 300, and electron lenses are formed between adjacent electrodes 14-17. Therefore, the electron beam emitted from the cathode structure 310 is focused and accelerated as it passes through the electron lenses.
The time required for normally emitting the electron beam from the electron gun 300 and the current density of the electron beam are determined by the cathode structure 310. The structure of the cathode structure 310 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The cathode structure 310 has three cathode assemblies 12, an external case 13 fixed to the control electrodes 14 of FIG. 2, and an insulating body 28 within the external case 13 and through which the three cathode assemblies 12 are disposed.
Each cathode assembly 12 includes a cylindrical sleeve 21, a cap member 22 fixed to the end portion of the sleeve 21, an electron emitting material layer 23 coated on the upper surface of the cap member 22, and a holder 25 for supporting the lower part of the sleeve 21. Each cathode assembly 12 is fixed inside an internal case 26, and the insulating body 28 isolates the external case 13 from the internal case 26. In addition, the cathode assemblies 12 of FIG. 3 are of the indirect heating type, and a heater 24 is inserted in the sleeve 21. On the other hand, in a direct heating type cathode structure, a heater is directly connected to a cathode.
The heater 24 emits heat when a predetermined potential is applied to the heater 24 of the thus-emitted cathode structure 310. Heat emitted from the heater 24 is transferred to, thereby heating, the cap member 22, the sleeve 21, and the holder 25. If the cap member 22 is heated to, for example, about 800.degree. C., electrons are emitted from the electron emitting material layer 23 coated on the upper surface of the cap member 22.
There are two types of electron emitting material layers: one is an oxide type obtained by coating a material containing an oxide of an alkali earth metal as a major component on a base metal containing a reducing material; and the other is an impregnation type obtained by impregnating an electron emitting material in the pores of a porous metal.
However, in a conventional cathode structure, since an electron emitting material is heated after a cap member and a sleeve are heated by a heater, a large amount of time is required for normal emission of electrons. Therefore, an extended period of time, generally 8-9 seconds, is needed to form an image on a screen of a CRT.
In addition, the cap member and the sleeve of the cathode structure are heated and then thermally expanded by the heater when they are operated, a convergence drift and a thermal drift in which the positions of electron beam shifts are generated. To prevent these drifts, electron beam emission aging should be performed during a manufacturing process, in which a cathode is heated for a long time so that the cathode has a physical and chemical structure more likely to emit electrons accurately. As a result, product yield is lowered.
In the case of a color CRT which excites red, blue, and green fluorescent material, a stabilization time for white balance is long due to the temporal differences among the initial thermal expansions of the cathode structure, the control electrodes, and the screen electrodes.
Furthermore, the conventional cathode structure consumes electric power, for example, 2-4 W, to heat the electron emitting material layer, and exhibits an electron emission characteristics distribution due to non-uniform heat transmission with respect to each of red, blue, and green cathodes.
In addition, since the heater and its support are included in the electron gun, the total length of the electron gun becomes large and a manufacturing process of the heater is very complicated, resulting in a decrease in product yield and an increase in failure rate.

Cathode structure and CRT electron gun adopting the same


A circuit board including a circuit pattern adhered firmly to a ceramic substrate and capable of eliminating an increase in resistivity due to an influence of an external environment, particularly, a thermal influence is disclosed. The circuit board comprises a ceramic substrate, and a circuit pattern formed on the substrate and having a multilayered structure in which a bonding layer comprising Ti and at least one element selected from the group consisting of N and O, a conductor layer consisting essentially of Cu, and a protective layer comprising Ti and at least one element selected from the group consisting of N and O are stacked in the order named.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit board fabricated by forming a circuit pattern having a multilayered structure on a ceramic substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A circuit board having a structure in which a circuit pattern is formed on a ceramic substrate is used by mounting, e.g., semiconductor chips on it. Recently, the integration degree, and power consumption of semiconductor chips, such as LSI chips and VLSI chips, are increasing. Therefore, a circuit board for mounting semiconductor chips, such as LSI chips, is required to have a higher adhesion between the ceramic substrate and the circuit pattern, a lower resistance of the circuit pattern, and better heat removal properties of the board than before. Also, in order to mount semiconductor chips, pin bonding regions are formed on the circuit board, and a large number of leads (e.g., pins) are bonded by using a brazing material.
A conventionally known example of a circuit board of this type is disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 1-223737. This circuit board is fabricated by forming, on the surface of a ceramic substrate consisting of an aluminum nitride (AlN) sintered material, a circuit pattern having a multilayered structure in which a first layer consisting of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Cr, Mo, and W, a second layer consisting of Ni or Cu, and a third layer consisting of Au are stacked in sequence.
If, however, the circuit board having a circuit pattern constituted by a multilayered structure of, e.g., Ti/Ni/Au, is exposed to heat during bonding of pins or packaging of semiconductor chips, the individual layer elements of the circuit pattern diffuse each other to increase the resistance significantly.
Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 64-84648 discloses a circuit board fabricated by forming a circuit pattern having a two-layered structure of Ti/Cu on a ceramic substrate consisting of an AlN sintered material. In this circuit board, however, the adhesion strength between the ceramic substrate and the circuit pattern is insufficient. In addition, when the circuit board is accepted a thermal influence, the individual elements of the circuit pattern diffuse each other to increase the resistance.


A charged particle beam apparatus comprising a preparatory evacuation chamber (15 in FIG. 1A) into which a sample (12) is conveyed and which is preliminarily evacuated, an ultraviolet irradiation unit (21) which is disposed in the preparatory evacuation chamber (15) and which irradiates the surface of the sample (12) conveyed into the preparatory evacuation chamber (15), with ultraviolet rays for a predetermined time period, and a sample chamber (16) into which the sample (12) is conveyed in the preliminarily evacuated state of the preparatory evacuation chamber (15) or from which the sample (12) is conveyed into the preparatory evacuation chamber (15), wherein the ultraviolet irradiation of the sample (12) by the ultraviolet irradiation unit (21) is performed before the conveyance of the sample (12) into the sample chamber (16), or/and after the conveyance thereof from the sample chamber (16), thereby to remove contamination on the surface of the sample (12).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charged particle beam apparatus for observing and inspecting the surface of a sample, such as semiconductor wafer or photomask, which is liable to be contaminated by irradiation with a charged particle beam and to have the image observation spoilt, and a contamination removal method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, in an electron beam apparatus such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), it has been well known that image observation is hampered by the contamination of a sample attendant upon irradiation with an electron beam (refer to Non-patent Document 1). The contamination is said to be ascribable to the fact that the electron beam will impinge against hydrocarbons floating or adsorbed in the surface of the sample, to turn the hydrocarbons into carbon and to deposit the carbon on the sample. It is considered that much of the hydrocarbons will, not only be produced by gases emitted from the inside components of the apparatus, but also be brought into the SEM by the sample having already been contaminated. It is therefore often observed that the production rate of the contamination becomes much higher than usual.
As countermeasures against the contamination in the electron beam apparatus, there are the following examples:
(1) Low-temperature Contamination Prevention Apparatus: A metal plate held at a low temperature (for example, liquid nitrogen temperature) is disposed around a sample which is irradiated with an electron beam, so as to adsorb hydrocarbons into the metal plate and to diminish the contamination of the sample.
(2) Purification and Degassing of Components: Components inside a sample chamber are subjected to ultrasonic cleaning with a solvent and are further degassed at high temperatures, and they are thereafter assembled into an electron beam apparatus, whereby hydrocarbons to be emitted are decreased, and the contamination of a sample is diminished.
Even after the above countermeasures (1) and (2), the diminution of the contamination of the sample is sometimes unsatisfactory. Especially in the observation of the surface of a semiconductor wafer or photomask or a pattern length measurement on the surface, an identical place is measured a plurality of times. On this occasion, a pattern size is often changed by the contamination attendant upon the electron beam irradiation, and even when the magnitude of the change is slight, unallowable lowering in the reproduction precision of length measurement values is sometimes incurred.
(3) Down-flow type Asher: Active oxygen is produced by radio-frequency discharge from a mixture gas consisting of O2 and CF4 and is reacted with hydrocarbons, thereby to remove contamination (refer to Non-patent Document 2). With this technique, an optimization control is difficult, and rather the lowering of the reproduction precision of length measurement values attributed to etching will be incurred in the observation of the surface of a semiconductor wafer or photomask or a pattern length measurement on the surface.
As stated above, it cannot be said that the related-art countermeasures against the contamination in the electron beam irradiation apparatus are satisfactory.
Meanwhile, in semiconductor manufacture, a dry cleaning method wherein organic substances on the surface of an Si substrate are removed by irradiation with ultraviolet rays has been well known. The principles of this method are as stated below. Oxygen O2 is dissociated into active oxygen O by the ultraviolet rays. Owing to the active oxygen, the organic substances undergo oxidation decompositions, thereby to be volatilized and removed. In particular, it has been known that a method of cleaning the Si substrate by irradiation with ultraviolet rays (vacuum ultraviolet rays at a wavelength of 172 nm) from an excimer lamp is effective (refer to Non-patent Document 3). This document indicates that, in the atmospheric air, when the density of the active oxygen at the sample surface is heightened by setting several mm or less as the distance between the sample and the window plane of the excimer lamp, a cleaning effect increases, whereas when the distance is made longer, the cleaning effect decreases because an ultraviolet dose to fall on the sample surface lessens due to the absorption of the ultraviolet rays by the atmospheric air, so the quantity of the active oxygen to appear in the vicinity of the surface lessens.
It is to be noted, however, that the ultraviolet irradiation has never been employed for the removal or prevention of the contamination in the charged particle beam apparatus.
[Non-patent Document 1] Electron Microscope (1981), Vol. 16, No. 1, p. 2, published by the Japanese Society of Microscopy
[Non-patent Document 2] Materials of the 117th Study Meeting (1991), p. 137, 132nd Committee, published by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
[Non-patent Document 3] Paper Issue (1999), Vol. 83, No. 5, published by the Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan

Charged particle beam apparatus and contamination removal method therefor


In the method for extinguishing fires in enclosed spaces, pre-cooled combustion products are introduced into an enclosed space until in the enclosed space there is an atmosphere that prevents combustion. An ecologically acceptable and fire-inhibiting medium that is not detrimental to health is formed by oxidizing the combustion products completely by an oxygen-containing oxidizing agent prior to cooling. An apparatus for implementing the method has a housing (1) which is divided by a transversely running partition wall (11) having at least one wall opening (15). At the at least one wall opening (15) a mixing tube (8) is mounted coaxially with respect to a discharge nozzle (2) connected to a combustion chamber (14), the end of the mixing tube remote from the partition wall (11) opening into the atmosphere. The space (7) between the mixing tube (8) and the inner wall of the housing (1) is filled with a coolant. Inlet openings (9) are formed in the wall of the housing (1) between the partition wall (11) and the end face of the combustion chamber (14) facing the partition wall (11). The discharge nozzle (2) is in the form of a jet pipe (6) and extends through the wall opening (15) into the mixing tube (8), a gap being present between the jet pipe (6) and the mixing tube (8).

To extinguish a fire in an enclosed space it is known to create in the enclosed space an atmosphere which prevents combustion. Inert solvents (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, water vapour), volatile inhibitors, halogenated agents or extinguishing powders (A. N. Baratov, E. M. Ivanov "Extinguishing fires in the chemical and oil-refining industries", Moscow, Chemistry, 1979) are used as fire extinguishing agents.
The known fire extinguishing systems for fires in enclosed spaces cannot be used, however, for extinguishing alkalimetals and alkaline earth metals and some metal hydrides and metal compounds which contain oxygen in their molecules.
The construction of fire extinguishing systems for rooms in very large buildings is difficult, because an adequate amount of gas has to be made available in a certain time. In addition, because of the danger of suffocation, signalling systems that indicate the implementation of the extinguishing process are necessary.
The use of halogenated compounds to extinguish fire likewise has a number of drawbacks. The effect of these agents on humans can be toxic, since their thermal decomposition when extinguishing fire gives rise to products having a highly corrosive action.
In addition, enclosed spaces at particular risk from fire are normally protected by very large fire-extinguishing systems employing halogenated hydrocarbons. On account of international measures for protection of the ozone layer in accordance with the Montreal protocol (1987), fluorohydrocarbons need to be reduced by half by 1995 and to be eliminated completely by the year 2000, since the potential of these substances to destroy ozone is high.
Fire-extinguishing systems having devices to produce fluorocarbon compounds are already known, for example from GB-PS 2 020 971. The disadvantage of these systems is the damaging effect of the fluorocarbon compounds on the environment. In addition, these systems have fairly large dimensions and are fairly heavy, so that they cannot be used very effectively to extinguish fires in means of transportation, for example, in air traffic.
GB-PS 2 028 127 discloses a fire extinguishing device having a housing with a discharge opening, a charge for producing the fire-extinguishing substance, and an ignition unit. When the ignition unit is operated, the pyrotechnic or solid-fuel charge is ignited, and the gaseous combustion products thereof form the fire extinguishing substance that passes through the discharge opening into the fire region and extinguishes the fire. The effectiveness of this apparatus is unsatisfactory, however, since the capacity of the gaseous combustion products, which are inert solvents, to extinguish fire is slight.
PCT/RU 92/00071 discloses a method for producing a fire-extinguishing mixture in which a mixture of solid particles and inert gases is produced on letting off the charge comprising a pyrotechnic composition. The high dispersion degree of these particles, their chemical property and the freshly formed surface ensure a substantial fire-extinguishing action.
That method has a number of drawbacks, however. The high temperature of the combustion products leads to an increase in the average temperature in the enclosed space to be protected, which has an adverse effect on living things in this enclosed space and on valuables (for example, documents, paintings etc.). As the aerosol cools, the proportion of unreacted elements in the combustion products, and consequently also the proportion of NH3, CO, nitrogen oxide and other products in the fire-extinguishing agent, increases dramatically. In addition, on combustion of the pyrotechnic, solid-fuel, aerosol-forming fire-extinguishing mixture compositions and ballistic compositions, in addition to the primary gaseous aerosol products having the extinguishing action, gaseous products of the incomplete combustion of organic components (NH3, H2, CHx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are also released, which leads to pollution of the environment by these products.

Method and apparatus for extinguishing fires in enclosed spaces


A device for use with a closure magazine of a closing or capping machine for introducing crown corks or similar closures into a closure channel from a chamber that accommodates a plurality of such closures. The closures are conducted in the closure channel in a successive manner and in single file. At least one magnetic conveyor is provided at a transition that is formed partially in the chamber and partially in an entry region of the closure channel. At this transition, the conveyor exerts a conveying effect upon the closures in a first conveying direction from the chamber into the closure channel.

The present invention relates to a device, for use with a closure magazine of a closing or capping machine, for introducing closures or caps into a closure channel from a chamber that accommodates a plurality of such closures, with the closures being crown corks of ferromagnetic material and having a cap-like shape with a closed side and an open side, and with the closures being conducted in the closure channel in a successive manner and in single file.
Various types of closure magazines for crown corks or similar closures are known for use with closing or capping machines. In the simplest case, such a closure magazine has a magazine chamber that is adjoined by a closure channel that, as a closure supply channel, leads to a transfer station at which the closures are transferred to closing elements and/or to the containers that are to be capped. In this connection, the closure channel has an essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration that is adapted to the shape and size of the closures in such a way that all of the closures in the closure channel are inherently oriented such that their central axes are disposed perpendicular to the axis of the closure channel, and the open or closed sides of the closures are disposed adjacent to the respectively larger cross-sectional sides of the closure channel. The closure channel is furthermore provided with a turnover zone where those closures that do not have the correct orientation with respect to their open or closed sides are turned over.
To accommodate higher outputs, the closure magazine, in addition to the magazine chamber, frequently has a collection chamber in which the closures are conveyed via a closure channel that is embodied as a turnover channel, so t hat all of the closures in the collection chamber already have the correct orientation with respect to their open and closed sides. Adjoining the collection chamber is then the closure channel, which is embodied as a feed channel.
Within the context of the present invention, both the magazine chamber as well as the collection chamber are also designated as "chamber".
A device of the aforementioned general type is known (DE-PS 30 49 525, U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,812). With this known device, the magazine chamber is formed by the interior of a fixed drum, the axis of which is oriented in the vertical direction. Disposed in the drum is a disk that can be driven so as to rotate about the vertical drum axis; this disk forms the base of the magazine chamber, and its rim portion extends into an extension that is formed at the periphery of the drum and extends outwardly radially relative to the vertical drum axis, so that at this location an annular channel is formed between the upper side of the disk and a ring that forms this extension. The annular channel surrounds the vertical drum axis and is open in a radially inward direction; at the transition, a horizontal portion of the closure channel leads tangentially away from the annular channel. A number of permanent magnets are provided at the periphery of the disk. These permanent magnets form a magnetic field that extends around the vertical axis of the disk or drum; by means of this magnetic field, the closures are conveyed out of the magazine chamber and into the closure channel. In this connection, the disk forms a horizontal abutment and guide surface for the open or closed side of the closure, with the abutment surface being disposed in a plane that extends perpendicular to the axis about which the magnetic field is moved, i.e. about which the permanent magnets rotate.
The intention of this known device is that due to the rotating disk, the closures will be moved into the annular channel by centrifugal force. This has serious drawbacks in that the closures can jam against and block one another not only in the region of this annular channel but rather in particular also at the transition to the closure channel. A further drawback of the known device is that a relatively high abrasion of the closures as well as a relatively loud operation results.
It is therefore a object of the present invention to improve the device of the aforementioned general type in such a way that although a straightforward construction is provided, the device will have a considerably improved mode of operation as well as an improved operational reliability.

Device for use with a closure magazine for introducing closures into a closure channel

Seitz Enzinger Noll Machinenbau Aktiengesellschaft


In a device for applying plant-protecting compositions and the like, having a tank for carrier fluid, for example water, and a feed pump that pumps carrier fluid from this tank through a pipe to which spray nozzles are connected, and having a metering pump that is connected by a connecting pipe to a preparation container and is driven by the carrier fluid supplied by the feed pump, in order to avoid a complicated apparatus for controlling the concentration of the preparation in the carrier fluid and to achieve reliable and accurate metering, the metering pump (5) is connected in series with the feed pump (2) so that the whole of the carrier fluid flowing through the pipe (3) passes through the metering pump (5), wherein the carrier fluid drives a drive element (12) in the metering pump (5), which in turn drives a metering mechanism (13, 14) which is connected to the connecting pipe (10) leading to the preparation container (11) and is provided with a setting sleeve (15) for the concentration of the preparation.

The invention relates to a device for applying plant protecting compositions and the like.
A device of this kind is known from EP-A-201 981 in which, in order to keep the concentration of the active substance in the carrier fluid constant irrespective of the driving speed of the tractor to which the device is attached, the volume of carrier fluid supplied by the feed pump to the spray nozzles is controlled, as a function of the amount of active substance added, by an electric control means that monitors one of the two fluid flows. Although the amount of active substance is controlled as a function of the driving speed, the concentration remains independent of the driving speed. The metering pump for the active substance is driven by a motor. It is said, however, also to be possible for the metering pump to be so designed that it is driven by the pressurised carrier fluid supplied by the feed pump. How, in that case, the metering pump is designed, and how the volume of carrier fluid is supposed to be controlled as a function of the amount of active substance added, is not specified. In that device, keeping the concentration of active substance in the carrier fluid constant irrespective of the driving speed necessitates a complicated control means that matches the drive of the feed pump to the amount of active substance supplied. To adjust the concentration of the active substance in the carrier fluid, the drive of the metering pump is modified by the control means, thus requiring the control means to have a further function.
AU-B-504 816 discloses a device for metering a liquid fertilizer or the like into a stream of water flowing through a main pipe, a reduction in pressure in the water flow being produced by a reduction in cross-section, for example a Venturi nozzle, in the main pipe. Pipelines are connected to the main pipe, one upstream and one downstream from this reduction in cross-section, each of which leads to a pump that is connected by way of an immersed pipe to a container housing the preparation. As a result of the higher pressure in the pipeline connected upstream from the reduction in cross-section, a diaphragm piston in the pump is acted upon, this piston, which is provided with valves and biassed by a spring, sucking fertilizer out of the container, and the fertilizer being fed into the main pipe through the pipeline connected downstream from the reduction in cross-section, in which the pressure is lower. In that device, a certain pressure difference must be produced in the main line so that the force of the spring against the diaphragm piston of the pump can be overcome and enable the pump to work. Accurate metering, as is necessary for plant-protecting compositions, cannot be achieved with that device. The adjustment of the concentration of fertilizer in the water flow has to be undertaken by modifying the pressure difference in the main pipe. The concentration cannot be adjusted accurately in this way.
Finally, DE-U-88 09 599 discloses a spraying device in the form of a hand-held spray pipe, there being mounted at the outlet end of the spray pipe a one-way supplementary fluid dispenser consisting of a cylindrical housing and a piston displaceably arranged therein on a guide tube. Primary fluid from the spray pipe flows out through this guide tube into an outlet nozzle on the supplementary fluid dispenser, whilst a partial flow of the primary fluid acts on the piston, so that the supplementary fluid contained in the supplementary fluid dispenser is forced by means of the piston into the outlet nozzle in which it is mixed with the primary fluid emerging from the guide tube. Exact metering is not possible with this device because it is not possible for the piston in the supplementary fluid dispenser to be moved from its rest position by a small amount of primary fluid. Also, because of the friction of the piston in the housing, metering cannot be predetermined and adjustment of the concentration of supplementary fluid in the primary fluid is not possible.

Device for applying plant-protecting compositions


A protrusion portion of a clip member is abutted against an end face of a front glass lower end, and the clip member is fixed to a back face of the front glass via an adhesive agent. An engagement portion that is formed in a tongue piece of a cowl-top cover is engaged with a target engagement portion of the clip member, and the cowl-top cover is mounted in a state in which a surface of the cowl-top cover and a surface of the front glass are arranged so as to be flush with each other. In addition, an engagement direction is defined as an engagement direction taken along a lengthwise direction oriented from a lower end to an upper end of the front glass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of mounting a cowl-top cover that is disposed between a front glass and a front hood of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there have been employed a number of cowl-top cover mounting structures in such a manner as to hold and support a lower end part of a front glass by means of a clip member that is formed at a rear end part of the cowl-top cover. A mounting structure of such type serves as a constituent element adapted to hold the lower end part of the front glass from the upper and lower directions by means of a clip; and therefore, a boundary portion between the lower end part of the front glass and the cowl-top cover is swelled by means of a plate thickness of a clip member.
Accordingly, as a vehicle cowl-louver structure (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-264868, for example), there has been proposed a construction in which the swelling in the boundary portion between the lower end part of the front glass and the cowl-top cover is eliminated, and its related surfaces are flush with each other between the lower end part of the front glass and the rear end part of the cowl-top cover. Such a layout construction in which the surfaces are flush with each other is provided, thereby making it possible to improve an external view in the boundary portion between the front glass and the cowl-top cover.
While the vehicle cowl-louver structure described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-264868 is shown as the related art in comparison with the present invention, FIG. 17 shows a sectional view of essential portions of a cowl-louver main body and a window shield glass. As shown in FIG. 17, a lip member 52 is mounted on the side of a rear end part 50a of the cowl-louver main body 50, and via the lip member 52, the cowl-louver main body 50 abuts against an end face of a lower end side of the window shield glass 51.
On a back face of the window shield glass 51, a clip 53 having a hook-shaped engagement protrusion 54 is fixed via a double-sided tape. The engagement protrusion 54 is formed in a shape in which the protrusion is released to an upper side of a vehicle, and a claw portion 55 that is erected downward from a back face of the cowl-louver main body 50 is capable of engaging the cowl-louver main body 50 therewith by moving the claw portion from top to bottom with respect to a clip 53. That is, the cowl-louver main body 50 is moved in a direction orthogonal to that of a face of the window shield glass 51.
In a state in which the claw portion 55 of the cowl-louver main body 50 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 54 of the clip 53, a surface of the window shield glass 51, a surface of the lip member 52, and a surface of the cowl-louver main body 50 can be arranged so as to be flush with each other.
According to the invention described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-264868, the cowl-top louver main body 50 is moved in a direction orthogonal to the face of the window shield glass 51, that is, in a direction from top to bottom, whereby the claw portion 55 can be engaged with the engagement protrusion 54 of the clip 53. Thus, when the claw portion 55 is pushed so as to be thereby engaged with the engagement protrusion 54, a bending stress acts on the back face of the window shield glass 51 fixing the clip 53.
Due to an influence of the bending stress acting on the window shield glass 51, there is a possibility that the window shield glass 51 cracks or breaks and then there is a need to set a plate thickness of the window shield glass 51 so as to be thick. In addition, due to a compression force that is exerted when the claw portion 55 is pushed against the engagement protrusion 54, a force that is produced in a rotating direction with respect to the window shield glass 51 acts on the clip 53. This rotation force acts on a bonding face between the clip 53 and the window shield glass 51, there is a possibility that a double-sided tape that is attached to the bonding face is released therefrom and thus there is a need to use adhesive agent with its strong adhesive force.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cowl-top cover mounting structure that: is capable of arranging a surface of a front glass and a surface of a cowl-top cover so as to be flush with each other; is further capable of engaging the cowl-top cover with a clip member fixed to the front glass without causing the front glass to crack or break; and moreover, is capable of preventing unlocking of the clip member and the front glass, without a need to provide a special reinforcement when the cowl-top cover is engaged with the clip member.


An autonomously-cleaned conditioning system conducts a routine purge cycle to clear accumulated particulates from a filter, concentrator, or both. The purge cycle is conducted by reversing air flow through the filter and/or concentrator. Air flow is reversed on a periodic basis or on the occurrence of a condition, such as a reduction in air flow exiting the concentrator.

A filter, a concentrator, or both, is often used in conjunction with sampling, analysis, and detection devices. The filter is used to prevent certain particulates (e.g., those out of a size range of interest, those likely to cause mechanical problems, etc.) from reaching analysis or detection equipment. The concentrator is used to increase the concentration of particles in a volume of gas (e.g., air, etc.).
FIG. 1 depicts conventional conditioning system 100 being used in conjunction with detector 114. In this example, the purpose of detector 114 is to monitor the air for particles within a certain size range, such as between 1 to 10 microns. The function of conditioning system 100 is to deliver particles within the size range of interest, and at a concentrated level, to detector 114 and to prevent particles that are larger than the size range of interest from reaching concentrator 104 or detector 114. The air-flow through system 100 is depicted by the arrows.
Conditioning system 100 includes filter 102, concentrator 104, and pumps 110 and 112. Filter 102 traps relatively large particles (i.e., greater than about 15 microns in this example) to prevent them from reaching concentrator 104 and/or detector 114. Pumps 110 and 112 are used for drawing air through filter 102, concentrator 104, and detector 112. In particular, for the system depicted in FIG. 1, pump 110 is used to draw air through port 106 and pump 112 is used to draw air through port 108 toward detector 114. Particles that are smaller than the size range of interest are drawn through port 106. Particles within the size range of interest are drawn through port 108.
Filter 102 and concentrator 104 typically include surfaces that tend to clog, especially when the filter or concentrator are used in dirty environments, such as underground passages or tunnels, etc. Frequent maintenance is therefore required to maintain the performance of these conditioning-system elements. This drives up the operational cost of devices that use a conditioning system, such as detector 114.
This problem of clogging has been addressed in the prior art by using replaceable mesh-filtration systems. But these filters must be replaced when they clog, which occurs frequently in dirty environments.
As a consequence, there is a need for device or system for addressing the clogging problem in filters and concentrators.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An ultrasonic imaging system includes an imaging catheter and an imaging apparatus. The imaging catheter has an insert for being inserted into a blood vessel, a transducer disposed in the insert, and at least one temperature sensor disposed in the insert. The temperature sensor measures the intravascular temperature in a radial direction of the blood vessel and rotates to measure an intravascular temperature distribution in a transverse cross section of the blood vessel. The diagnostic imaging apparatus has an ultrasonic signal receiver for receiving an ultrasonic signal measured by the transducer, a temperature signal receiver for receiving an intravascular temperature signal measured by the temperature sensor, and an image constructing unit for constructing an image to be displayed from a tomographic vascular image generated from the ultrasonic signal and intravascular temperature information generated from the intravascular temperature signal, in relation to positional information of the ultrasonic signal and the intravascular temperature signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging system. The system is comprised of an ultrasonic imaging catheter (an ultrasonic catheter) and a diagnostic imaging apparatus for employing information obtained by the catheter for diagnostic purposes, and more particularly to an ultrasonic catheter for being inserted into a blood vessel in a living body to obtain information such as an ultrasonic image. The diagnostic imaging apparatus functions to obtain an intravascular image from information obtained by an ultrasonic catheter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus for use in body cavities generally have an ultrasonic catheter for scanning a body vessel such as a blood vessel or a vessel.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a structure of a distal end portion 1 of such a general ultrasonic catheter. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic catheter has a catheter tube 2 housing an imaging core therein. The distal end portion 1 is guided by a guide wire (not shown) and inserted into a blood vessel in a living body. The distal end portion 1 has a guide wire lumen tube 3 which has a lumen 5 defined therethrough to receive the guide wire. The guide wire extends through the lumen 5 and guides the ultrasonic catheter in the blood vessel. An X-ray marker 4 made of gold, platinum, or the like is mounted on the tip end of the guide wire lumen 3. The X-ray marker 4 gives a visual indication as to the location of the ultrasonic catheter 1 in the living body in an X-ray radioscopic image.
The ultrasonic catheter also has a priming through hole 6 defined in the distal end portion thereof for removing air from the catheter tube 2 when the catheter tube 2 is filled up with a normal saline solution. The catheter tube 2 houses therein an X-ray marker 7 in the form of a metal coil. The X-ray marker 7 also serves as a stiffener for preventing the ultrasonic catheter from being bent.
A transducer housing 8 disposed in the catheter tube 2 accommodates an ultrasonic transducer 9 therein. A coil 10 is mounted on the tip end of the transducer housing 8 for stabilizing the rotation of the transducer housing 8 when a drive shaft 11 coupled to the transducer housing 8 is rotated by a motor (not shown). The drive shaft 11 is connected to the motor and houses signal lines therein. A coil is wound around the outer surface of the drive shaft 11.
While the drive shaft 11 is being rotated by the motor, the ultrasonic transducer 9 emits and receives ultrasonic waves reflected from the inner wall of the blood vessel in all directions (360° for generating a tomographic image of the blood vessel.
Japanese patent publication No. Hei 7-38852 discloses an ultrasonic probe for sending and receiving ultrasonic waves to acquire a tomographic image of the blood vessel, and introducing the blood from the blood vessel and measuring the temperature of the introduced blood with a temperature sensor. That disclosed ultrasonic probe can detect the temperature of the blood, as well as a tomographic image of the blood vessel like the ultrasonic catheter shown in FIG. 1, for diagnostic purposes.
The distal end portion 1 of the ultrasonic catheter shown in FIG. 1 has only the ultrasonic transducer 9 and is unable to detect the temperature in the blood vessel in a particular location in the living body.
The ultrasonic probe disclosed in Japanese patent publication No. Hei 7-38852 suggests that an ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed on a display unit such as a display monitor or the like. However, it fails to disclose anything about how the temperature information of the blood that is measured by the temperature sensor is used, and about how the temperature information is visually presented. It can only be guessed from the disclosed ultrasonic probe that a numerical value of the temperature information may be displayed together with the ultrasonic tomographic image.
Furthermore, the above two conventional devices suffer the following disadvantages: An intravascular ultrasonic device will be described by way of example. The intravascular ultrasonic device is used to observe the nature of a blood vessel or a blood vessel lumen or the form of an arterial sclerosis in a constricted area which is responsible for a cardiac infarction or the like, and to select an appropriate therapy. The intravascular ultrasonic device is also used to perform a chronological observation of how the arterial sclerosis develops, whether the blood vessel is constricted again, or whether the diameter of the blood vessel changes. The observation is merely the acquisition of information about a plaque that has already been formed. The above analysis applies to the above two conventional devices.
Attempts have been made in recent years to use the intravascular ultrasonic device to measure the intravascular temperature or the temperature of an arteriosclerotic plaque to predict the possibility of an arterial sclerosis. It has been reported that when an arteriosclerotic plaque, though not clearly confirmed by an image, is formed in an arterial coronaria, the intravascular temperature is 0.11±0.11° C. higher than the normal intravascular temperature when the patient is suffering stable angina, 0.68±0.35° C. higher than the normal intravascular temperature when the patient is suffering unstable angina, and 1.47±0.69° C. higher than the normal intravascular temperature when the patient is suffering acute myocardial infarction.
It has also been reported that the temperature of a plaque in a carotid artery, or the temperature in a carotid artery if there is a danger of the formation of a plaque, is 0.4 to 2.2° C. higher than the normal intravascular temperature.
An intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus has a catheter with an ultrasonic transducer incorporated therein. The catheter is inserted into a blood vessel, and the ultrasonic transducer in the catheter is rotated to perform radial scanning on the blood vessel. Based on reflected ultrasonic waves, the intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic imaging apparatus displays a tomographic image of the blood vessel on a display monitor.
An intravascular temperature may be measured by a thermodilution catheter though the thermodilution catheter is originally used for other purpose.
The above two conventional devices need to produce an ultrasonic intravascular tomographic image and measure a temperature separately. Therefore it cannot accurately identify where each of the temperature data is measured in the blood vessel or where there is the plaque because the location where the temperature is measured cannot be specified.

Ultrasonic imaging system and imaging method


The present disclosure discloses an optical imaging lens assembly including a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, a seventh lens and an eighth lens, each of which has refractive power. The first lens has a negative refractive power; the the third lens and the sixth lens each has a positive refractive power; an object-side surface of the fourth lens is convex, and an image-side surface thereof is concave; an object-side surface of the fifth lens is convex,and an image-side surface thereof is concave. A distance TTL along the optical axis from an object-side surface of the first lens to an imaging plane of the optical imaging lens assembly and half of a diagonal length ImgH of an effective pixel area on the imaging plane of the optical imaging lens assembly satisfy TTL/ImgH≤1.25.

In recent years, with the popularization of electronic products, such as mobile phone and tablet computer, people's demand for the portable and thin and light electronic products is getting higher and higher. Further, with the popularization of large-size, high-pixel CMOS chips, more and more stringent requirements have been put forward on various aspects of matched optical lens assembly for electronic products. For example, the optical lens assembly is required to have large imaging size.
At present, due to the trend of miniaturization of electronic products, the total length of the lens assembly is limited, which makes the design of the lens assembly more difficult. The size of the imaging surface of a conventional lens assembly is usually only about ⅓ inch, and it is difficult for the conventional lens assembly to take into account the ultra-thin large image surface and high resolution while miniaturizing.


The present invention provides a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition with improved preservation stability. The present invention is a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition obtained by blending (a) a zeolite compound, (b) a vulcanizing agent, and (c) an optional organic vulcanization accelerator. The zeolite compound can be natural zeolite, an A-type, X-type, or Y-type synthetic zeolite, a sodalite, natural or synthetic mordenite, ZSM-5, or a metal substitution product thereof. The zeolite compound is preferably an activated zeolite compound. With respect to 100 parts by weight of chlorinated polyethylene, (a) preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 25 parts by weight, of the zeolite compound, (b) preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, of the vulcanizing agent, and (c) preferably 0.5 to 3 mol, more preferably 0.7 to 1.5 mol, of the vulcanization accelerator with respect to 1 mol of (b) the vulcanizing agent are blended.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition such as represented by chlorinated polyethylene or epichlorohydrin polymer, and to a vulcanized product thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a chlorine-containing polymer is widely used as a material for a rubber product or a resin product, or as a material for an adhesive or a paint because of its excellent heat resistance, oil resistance, weather resistance, ozone resistance, and abrasion resistance. In particular, chlorinated polyethylene is attracting people""s attention as a rubber material utilizing its excellent heat resistance, oil resistance, weather resistance, and ozone resistance.
Various proposals have already been made for vulcanization of chlorinated polyethylene. For example, organic peroxides and various sulphur-containing compounds such as mercaptotriazines are proposed as a vulcanizing agent for chlorinated polyethylene. It is also known to use various organic vulcanization accelerators such as an amine compound in combination with the vulcanizing agent for accelerating vulcanization of chlorinated polyethylene. It is a common knowledge of those skilled in the art that an acid receiving agent must be blended with a vulcanizing composition for absorbing an acid component generated in a small amount in vulcanizing chlorinated polyethylene. For example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 55-39250/1980 proposes a metal compound selected from the group consisting of oxide, hydroxide, carboxylate, silicate, carbonate, phosphite, borate, basic sulfite and tribasic sulfate of a group IVA metal in the periodic table, as the acid receiving agent.
A vulcanizing composition disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 63-28047/1988 provides stability of a vulcanized product and a suitable vulcanization speed, and the patent publication gives oxide, hydroxide, carboxylate, silicate, carbonate, phosphite and borate of a group II metal in the periodic table, and oxide, basic phosphite, basic carbonate, basic carboxylate, basic sulfite, and tribasic sulfate of a group IVA metal in the periodic table as example of the metal compounds. Specific examples thereof include magnesia, magnesium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, barium carbonate, slaked lime, quick lime, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, calcium phthalate, magnesium phosphite, calcium phosphite, zinc white, tin oxide, litharge, red lead, white lead, dibasic lead phthalate, dibasic lead carbonate, tin stearate, basic lead phosphite, basic tin phosphite, basic lead sulfite and tribasic lead sulfate.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 53-3439/1978, 54-58750/1979, 09-176433/1997, and others disclose a vulcanizing composition containing a thiadiazole compound as a vulcanizing agent for a chlorine-containing polymer, in which a basic metal oxide, a basic metal salt, a basic metal hydroxide, or the like is used as a compounding agent.
However, none of these vulcanizing compositions is a composition obtained by blending a zeolite compound as an acid receiving agent with a chlorine-containing polymer. Although these vulcanizing compositions provide vulcanized products having good vulcanization properties and are put into industrial use, they have a poor preservation stability and involves various restrictions in industrial rubber processing. For example, if the preservation stability of the vulcanizing composition is poor, vulcanization proceeds during preservation to make vulcanization molding impossible, whereby the vulcanizing composition must be discarded, desired vulcanization properties can not be obtained, or a dimension precision is greatly reduced, even though the vulcanization molding can be carried out.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication 58-18939/1983 discloses blending a specific aluminosilicate as a heat stabilizer with a chlorine-containing polymer. However, this does not contain a vulcanizing agent, i.e. is not one obtained by blending an aluminosilicate with a vulcanizing composition, much less gives a teaching of preservation stability of the vulcanizing composition.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publications 07-157566/1995 and 07-286098/1995 disclose a polymer vulcanizing composition containing an epichlorohydrin polymer, a mercapto vulcanizing agent, and a hydrotalcite. However, this vulcanizing composition is not one obtained by blending a zeolite compound as an acid receiving agent.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 60-233138/1985 discloses a composition containing a chlorosulfonated polyolefin, an epoxy compound, and an A-type zeolite. However, this is a disclosure that the A-type zeolite preserves a white color of the chlorosulfonated polyolefin at the time of heating and increases the strength of the vulcanized product, and it also fails to give a teaching on the preservation stability of the vulcanizing composition.
In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition with improved preservation stability.
The inventors of the present invention have made various studies in order to solve the above problems, and found out that blending a zeolite compound as an acid receiving agent is effective in improving the preservation stability of a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition, thereby completing the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition obtained by blending with a chlorine-containing polymer, (a) a zeolite compound, (b) a vulcanizing agent, and (c) an optional organic vulcanization accelerator.
Further, the present invention provides a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition containing (d) an optional inorganic vulcanization accelerator in addition to the above-mentioned compounding agents (a), (b), and (c). By blending the (d) component, the vulcanization speed and the compression set can be improved.
The term xe2x80x9cchlorine-containing polymerxe2x80x9d as a major component of the composition is used to include a polymer with chlorine directly bonded to a main chain of the polymer or a polymer obtained using a chlorine-containing monomer as a main constituent element, such as chlorinated polyethylene, an epichlorohydrin polymer, polyvinyl chloride, chloroprene rubber, chlorinated natural rubber or chlorosulfonated polyethylene; a polymer containing a small amount of chlorine as a cross-linking point, such as chlorinated butyl rubber; an acrylic rubber obtained by copolymerizing an acrylic monomer with a chlorine-containing monomer; and others.
These polymers can be each a commercially available product, and can be used without special limitation.
Among the above chlorine-containing polymers, chlorinated polyethylene is obtained by chlorinating polyethylene powder or particles in an aqueous suspension or in an organic solvent. In the present invention, chlorinated polyethylene is preferably obtained by chlorination in an aqueous suspension. The polyethylene to be used as a raw material is a homopolymer of ethylene or a copolymer of ethylene with a copolymerable comonomer. Examples of the comonomers include a-olefins such as propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, and 4-methyl-pentene-1; acetates such as vinyl acetate and ethyl acetate; (meth)acrylic acid; and (meth)acrylic acid esters such as methyl (meth)acrylate and ethyl (meth)acrylate. The polyethylene has a weight-average molecular weight of preferably 40,000 to 700,000, more preferably 50,000 to 300,000.
The polyethylene to be used as a raw material can be a high density polyethylene and a blend of a high density polyethylene with a low density polyethylene.
The chlorine content of chlorinated polyethylene to be used in the present invention is preferably 20 to 50% by weight, more preferably 25 to 45% by weight, when the vulcanized product is to be used as a vulcanized rubber. If the chlorine content is too high or too low, the hardness of the composition to be obtained can be too high. An amorphous or substantially amorphous chlorinated polyethylene is preferable. If the vulcanized product is to be used as a vulcanized adhesive for rubber and metal, the chlorine content of the chlorinated polyethylene to be used in the present invention is preferably 50 to 75% by weight, more preferably 60 to 70% by weight. If the chlorine content is 50% by weight or lower, the adhesive power can be insufficient, whereas if the content is 75% by weight or higher, the chlorination takes a lot of time, so that it is not preferable.
Among the above chlorine-containing polymers, the epichlorohydrin polymer is a homopolymer of epichlorohydrin or a copolymer of epichlorohydrin with a copolymerable epoxide such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or allyl glycidyl ether. Examples of the epichlorohydrin polymers include epichlorohydrin homopolymer, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide copolymer, epichlorohydrin-propylene oxide copolymer, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether terpolymer and epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether tetrapolymer. Among these, preferred polymers are epichlorohydrin homopolymer, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide copolymer and epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether terpolymer. More preferred polymers are epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide copolymer and epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether terpolymer. In these copolymers, it is preferable that an epichlorohydrin component is contained at least at 10 mol% in view of ensuring a practical vulcanization speed.
The molecular weight of the epichlorohydrin polymer is preferably ML1+4 (100xc2x0 C.)=about 30 to 150 typically in Mooney viscosity representation.
The chlorine content in the chlorosulfonated polyethylene to be used in the present invention is preferably 20 to 50% by weight, more preferably 25 to 45% by weight when it is to be used as a vulcanized rubber. If the chlorine content is too high or too low, the hardness of the obtained vulcanized rubber can be too high. The amount of the chlorosulfone group introduced as a vulcanizing point is preferably 1 to 2% by weight generally in terms of sulphur content. Usually, chlorosulfonated polyethylene having a molecular weight of ML1+4 (100xc2x0 C.)=about 20 to 150 in Mooney viscosity representation is used as it is. An amorphous or substantially amorphous chlorosulfonated polyethylene is preferable.
The chlorine-containing polymer can be a blend of a chlorine-containing polymer in a major proportion and another rubber and/or resin in a minor proportion. For example, the chlorinated polyethylene can be one obtained by blending a nitrile rubber, an acrylic rubber, or the like with chlorinated polyethylene. This blending is carried out for the purpose of improving oil resistance, heat resistance and others.
The zeolite compound (a) acts as an acid receiving agent, and greatly improves the preservation stability of the chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition. This effect produced by using a zeolite compound as an acid receiving agent is unexpected and surprising.
The zeolite compound of the composition can be various kinds of zeolite, such as a natural zeolite, an A-type, X-type, or Y-type synthetic zeolite, a sodalite, a natural or synthetic mordenite, ZSM-5, or a metal substitution product thereof. These can be used either alone or in mixtures thereof. The metal in the metal substitution product is often sodium. It is preferable to use a zeolite compound which has a high acid receiving capability.
The method for producing synthetic zeolite is known. For example, in the hydrothermal synthesis method, oxide (base) of an alkali or alkali earth metal, alumina, silica, and water are used as starting materials, and these are allowed to react typically at a temperature of 100xc2x0 C. or more, followed by precipitation of a zeolite crystal. It is possible to use a natural silicate mineral, for example, kaoline or clay such as allophene, or a volcanic glass as a starting material. For example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication 26-1119/51 discloses a method in which an active silicic acid obtained by treating an acid clay (montmorillonite) with an acid is allowed to react with a dilute sodium aluminate to produce a synthetic zeolite.
As the zeolite compound, it is preferable to use an activated zeolite compound. The term xe2x80x9cactivated zeolite compoundxe2x80x9d stands for one which is substantially free from water. Such activation can be carried out by heating to dehydrate a zeolite compound at a temperature of 100xc2x0 C. or more in a dried air or nitrogen stream, or by introducing a zeolite compound at the time of kneading a chlorine-containing polymer with other components and exposing the resulting mixture to a kneading temperature of 140xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C.
The vulcanizing agent is not specifically limited, and can be sulphur, a mercaptotriazine compound, a thiadiazole compound, 2,3-dimercaptoquinoxaline derivative, a thiourea compound, an amine, a thiuram compound, or the like.
The vulcanizing agent for chlorinated polyethylene is preferably a mercaptotriazine compound or a thiadiazole compound.
The mercaptotriazine compound can be a compound represented by the following general formula (I).
In the formula (I), R is a group selected from the group consisting of a mercapto group, an alkoxy group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, a cycloalkylamino group, a dicycloalkylamino group and an arylamino group.
Specific examples of the mercaptotriazine compounds include 2,4,6-trimercapto-1,3,5-triazine, 1-methoxy-3,5-dimercaptotriazine, 1-hexylamino-3,5-dimercaptotriazine, 1-diethylamino-3,5-dimercaptotriazine, 1-cyclohexylamino-3,5-dimercaptotriazine, 1-dibutylamino-3,5-dimercaptotriazine, 2-anilino-4,6-dimercaptotriazine, 1-phenylamino-3,5-dimercaptotriazine.
The thiadiazole compound can be a compound represented by the following general formula (II), (III), (IV), or (V).
In the formulae (II) and (III), R1 and R2 are identical or different, and represent a hydrogen atom, a group xe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)R3, or a group xe2x80x94R4OR5, wherein R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms, an aryl group having one or two ring(s), an acyl group having 7 to 14 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 8 carbon atoms, or a cyclohexyl group; and R4 and R5 are identical or different, and represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
In the formulae (IV) and (V), R6 and R7 are identical or different, and represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R8 and R9 are identical or different, and represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; n is 1 or 2; and X is an oxygen atom or a sulphur atom.
Specific examples of the thiadiazole compounds include 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, a monobenzoate derivative of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, and a dibenzoate derivative of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, and preferred examples are 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiobenzoate, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl-2,5-dithiobenzoate, 5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiostearate, 5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thio-1-naphthoate, 5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiophenylacetate, 5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiocyclohexylcarboxylate, 5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thio-p-toluate, 5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiocinnamate, 2,5-di(butoxymethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2,2xe2x80x2-dimercapto-5,5xe2x80x2-dithiobis(1,3,4-thiadiazole), 2,2xe2x80x2-di(butoxymethyl)-5,5xe2x80x2-dithiobis(1,3,4-thiadiazole), and the like.
Preferred examples of the vulcanizing agents for epichlorohydrin polymers include 2,3-dimercaptoquinoxaline derivatives and thiourea compounds in addition to the above-mentioned mercaptotriazine compounds and thiadiazole compounds.
Examples of the 2,3-dimercaptoquinoxaline derivatives include quinoxaline-2,3-dithiocarbonate, 6-methylquinoxaline-2,3-dithiocarbonate, 6-isopropylquinoxaline-2,3-dithiocarbonate, 5,8-dimethylquinoxaline-2,3-dithiocarbonate, and the like.
The thiourea compounds can be thiourea compounds such as an ethylenethiourea compound, a dialkylthiourea compound, and a trialkylthiourea compound. Specific examples thereof include 2-mercaptoimidazoline, 1,3-diethylthiourea, 1,3-dibutylthiourea, trimethylthiourea and the like.
The vulcanizing agent for a chlorosulfonated polyethylene can be a thiuram compound. A specific example thereof is dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide.
These vulcanizing agents can be used either singly or in combination of two or more.
The organic vulcanization accelerator (c) can be a member selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine, a tertiary amine, an organic acid salt or adduct of said amine, an aldehyde-ammonia compound, an aldehyde-amine compound, a guanidine compound, a thiazole compound, a sulfeneamide compound, a thiuram compound, dithiocarbamic acid compound, 1,8-diazabicyclo(5,4,0)undecene-7 and a weak acid salt thereof, a quaternary ammonium salt compound and mixtures of two or more thereof. However, the vulcanizing agent is not limited thereto.
The primary amine, the secondary amine, and the tertiary amine are preferably an aliphatic or alicyclic amine having 5 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of preferred amine include n-hexylamine, octylamine, dibutylamine, tributylamine, trioctylamine, di(2-ethylhexyl)amine, dicyclohexylamine, hexamethylenediamine, and the like.
The organic acid that forms a salt with the above-mentioned amine can be a carboxylic acid, a carbamic acid, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, dithiophosphoric acid and the like. The substance that forms an addition product with the above-mentioned amine can be an alcohol or an oxime. Specific examples of the organic acid salt or the addition product of amine include n-butylamine acetate, dibutylamine oleate, hexamethylenediamine carbamate, a dicyclohexylamine salt of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and the like.
Examples of the aldehyde-ammonia accelerator include hexamethylenetetramine, a reaction product of acetaldehyde and ammonia, and the like.
The aldehyde-amine accelerator can be, for example, a condensate of an amine with at least one aldehyde having 1 to 7 carbon atoms. Examples of preferred amine can be, for example, aniline, butylamine and the like. Among these, a condensate of aniline with an aldehyde having 1 to 7 carbon atoms is preferable. Specific examples thereof include a condensate aniline with butyraldehyde, a condensate of aniline with heptaldehyde, a condensate of aniline with acetaldehyde and butyraldehyde.
The guanidine accelerator can be diaryl guanidine such as diphenylguanidine, ditolylguanidine or the like.
The thiazole accelerator can be, for example, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, dibenzothiazyl disulfide, a zinc salt of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or the like.
The sulfeneamide accelerator comprises a 2-benzothiazylsulfeneamide of a primary amine or a secondary amine represented by the general formula (VI).
In the formula (VI), R10 and R11 are identical or different, and represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, excluding the case where R10 and R11 are both a hydrogen atom. R10 and R11 can be bonded to form a ring via or not via hetero atom(s).
Examples of the primary amine or the secondary amine that forms a sulfeneamide include cyclohexylamine, butylamines, diethylamine, dipropylamines, dioctylamines, dilaurylamines, dicyclohexylamine, piperidine, pipecoline, morpholine, and piperazine.
Specific examples of the sulfeneamide organic vulcanization accelerators include N-ethyl-2-benzothiazylsulfeneamide, N-t-butyl-2-benzothiazylsulfeneamide, N,N-di-isopropyl-2-benzothiazylsulfeneamide, N,N-di-n-butyl-2-benzothiazylsulfeneamide, N,N-di-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazylsulfeneamide, N-oxydiethylene-2-benzothiazylsulfeneamide and the like.
The thiuram accelerator comprises a thiuram sulfide compound represented by the following general formula (VII).
In the formula (VII), R12 and R13, R14 and R5 are identical or different, and represent, for example, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a cycloalkyl group, or an aralkyl group. R12 and R13 and/or R14 and R15 can be bonded each other to form a ring via or not via hetero atom(s).
Specific examples of the thiuram accelerators include tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, tetrabutylthiuram disulfide, dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide and the like.
The dithiocarbamic acid accelerator is exemplified by piperidine pentamethylenedithiocarbamate, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, copper dimethylcarbamate or the like.
The above-mentioned accelerator can be in a form of predispersion in an inorganic filler, an oil, a polymer or the like.
The compound 1,8-diazabicyclo(5,4,0)-undecene-7 (hereafter referred to as DBU) is a compound represented by the following formula (VIII).
The weak acid salt of DBU can be a carbonate, a carboxylate, a salt with a phenolic substance, a salt with an enolic substance, a salt with a thiol or the like. Examples of the acids that constitute these salts include carbonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, sorbic acid, salicylic acid, xcex2-oxynaphthoic acid, phenol, phthalic acid, cyanuric acid, mercaptobenzothiazole, mercaptobenzoimidazole, and phenolic resins, phenol novolak resins and the like.
Also, it is possible to use DBU by dissolving it into a liquid substance such as a higher alcohol or a glycol; to use DBU in a powder state by dispersing it in an inorganic filler; or to use DBU in a sheet-like or pellet-like form by incorporating it into a polymer substance.
The quaternary ammonium salt compound to be used as the organic vulcanization accelerator is a compound represented by the following general formula (IX).
In the formula (IX), R16, R17, R18, and R19 are identical or different, and represent a group selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms, a cyclohexyl group, a phenyl group, and a benzyl group. Examples of the above alkyl group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms include methyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, hexadecyl and the like. X is an anion and can be, for example, a halide anion such as fluoride ion, bromide ion, chloride ion or iodine ion.
These organic vulcanization accelerators may be used either singly or in combination of two or more.
The inorganic vulcanization accelerator (d) can be a compound selected from the group consisting of a basic metal oxide, a basic metal salt, a basic metal hydroxide, a basic silicon dioxide, a silicate, and a hydrotalcite. However, the inorganic vulcanization accelerator (d) is not limited thereto.
Specific examples of the inorganic vulcanization accelerator (d) include magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, basic silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, synthetic hydrotalcite and the like. The inorganic vulcanization accelerator is suitably selected in accordance with the other compounding agents.
Making much of preservation stability of the composition, it is preferable to use a basic metal carbonate. The inorganic vulcanization accelerator can be surface-treated before use.
The inorganic vulcanization accelerator is added preferably at 0 to 20 parts by weight. If it is added at more than 20 parts by weight, the accelerator does not exhibit an increased effect and merely exhibits an effect as a filler.
A polyvalent hydroxyl compound can be added in order to adjust the vulcanization speed. Such a polyvalent hydroxyl compound can be, for example, a trivalent to hexavalent alcohol such as glycerin, ethylene glycol, sorbit, trimethylolpropane or trimethylolethane, but is not limited thereto.
It is also possible to use the above-mentioned inorganic vulcanization accelerator as an additive which is generally called a xe2x80x9cfillerxe2x80x9d in the rubber industry.
One suitable embodiment of the present invention is a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition obtained by blending, with a chlorine-containing polymer, (a) a zeolite compound, (b) a vulcanizing agent, and (c) an organic vulcanization accelerator comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine, a tertiary amine, an organic acid salt or adduct thereof, an aldehyde-ammonia accelerator, an aldehyde-amine accelerator, a guanidine accelerator, a thiazole accelerator, a sulfeneamide accelerator, a thiuram accelerator, dithiocarbamic acid accelerator, DBU and a weak acid salt thereof, a quaternary ammonium salt compound and mixtures of two or more thereof.
A vulcanizing composition in which the above chlorine-containing polymer is a chlorinated polyethylene, an epichlorohydrin polymer, or a chlorosulfonated polyethylene is especially preferable.
The contents of the components in the chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition is such that, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the chlorine-containing polymer, (a) preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 25 parts by weight, of the zeolite compound, (b) preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, of the vulcanizing agent, and (c) preferably 0.5 to 3 mol, more preferably 0.7 to 1.5 mol, of the organic vulcanization accelerator with respect to 1 mol of the vulcanizing agent are blended.
Another suitable embodiment of the present invention is a chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition obtained by blending, with a chlorine-containing polymer, (a) a zeolite compound, (b) a thiadiazole compound, and (c) an organic vulcanization accelerator comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine, a tertiary amine, an organic acid salt or adduct thereof, an aldehyde-ammonia accelerator, an aldehyde-amine accelerator, a guanidine accelerator, a thiazole accelerator, a sulfeneamide accelerator, a thiuram accelerator, dithiocarbamic acid accelerator, DBU and a weak acid salt thereof, a quaternary ammonium salt compound and mixtures of two or more thereof, and (d) a compound selected from the group consisting of a basic metal oxide, a basic metal salt, a basic silicon dioxide, a silicate and a hydrotalcite.
A vulcanizing composition in which the above chlorine-containing polymer is chlorinated polyethylene or an epichlorohydrin polymer is especially preferable.
The contents of the components in the chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition is such that, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the chlorine-containing polymer, (a) preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 25 parts by weight, of the zeolite compound, (b) preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, of the vulcanizing agent, (c) preferably 0.5 to 3 mol, more preferably 0.7 to 1.5 mol, of the organic vulcanization accelerator with respect to 1 mol of the vulcanizing agent, and (d) preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 5 parts by weight, of the inorganic vulcanization accelerator are blended.
A vulcanized product having good vulcanization properties can be obtained by vulcanizing the above chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition.
In the present specification, xe2x80x9cgood preservation stabilityxe2x80x9d means that the difference (hereafter referred to as xcex94 Vm) between the Vm value (the lowest Mooney viscosity) of the vulcanizing composition immediately after the kneading in the Mooney Scorch test as defined by JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) K6300 (physical test method for unvulcanized rubber) and the Vm value of the composition in the Mooney Scorch test as measured after it was left to stand for 3 or 7 days at 35xc2x0 C. under humidity of 75% after the kneading, is small.
The tensile physical property (hereafter referred to as initial physical properties) was measured according to JIS K6251, and the compression set was measured according to JIS K6262.
Into the vulcanizing composition of the present invention may be added various additives generally used in the field of the art, for example, a filler, a reinforcing agent, a plasticizer, a stabilizer, an anti-aging agent, a lubricant, a viscosity-imparting agent, a pigment, a flame-retardant, an ultraviolet absorber, a foaming agent, a vulcanization moderator, and the like, if necessary. A short fiber or the like can be added to improve the strength and the rigidity.
In order to prepare the vulcanizing composition of the present invention, the above compounding agents are kneaded by means of an ordinary mixing roll, a Banbury mixer, a twin-screw kneading extruder, or the like kneader, and the kneaded product is then formed into a desired sheet-like shape by means of an oven roll or the like. The molding or the vulcanization is carried out by means of a pressing machine, an extruder, an injection-molding machine or the like to give a rubber product having a desired shape. The vulcanization condition is suitably selected within the range of 100 to 200xc2x0 C. and several minutes to two hours.
A laminated product and a laminated hose having a layer of the above vulcanizing composition can be prepared applying a well-known general lamination process or an extrusion-molding technique. For example, the laminated product can be obtained by laminating the layer of the above vulcanizing composition directly on a layer made of epichlorohydrin rubber, nitrile rubber, nitrile rubber having polyvinyl chloride blended therewith, or acrylic rubber, followed by vulcanizing the composition. Also, the laminated hose can be obtained by molding a hose including an inner layer made of epichlorohydrin rubber, nitrile rubber, nitrile rubber having polyvinyl chloride blended therewith, or acrylic rubber, and an outer layer made of the above vulcanizing composition, followed by vulcanizing the composition.
Specific embodiments for practicing the present invention will be described with reference to the following Examples. However, the present invention is not limited by the following Examples unless it departs from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The details of the compounding agents used in the Examples and Comparative Examples are as follows.
Chlorinated polyethylene; xe2x80x9cDAISOLAC H-135xe2x80x9d manufactured by DAISO CO., LTD., with a chlorine content of 35%
Epichlorohydrin polymer; ethylene/epichlorohydrin copolymer, xe2x80x9cEPICHLOMER Cxe2x80x9d manufactured by DAISO CO., LTD., with a chlorine content of 25%
Chlorosulfonated polyethylene; xe2x80x9cHYPALON 40xe2x80x9d manufactured by DuPont Dow Elastomers
NBR/PVC: xe2x80x9cNV75xe2x80x9d manufactured by JSR Corporation, a blended product of NBR/PVC=70/30
Reinforcing agent; FEF carbon black, xe2x80x9cSEAST SOxe2x80x9d manufactured by Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd.
Plasticizer I; diisodecyl adipate, xe2x80x9cDIDAxe2x80x9d manufactured by Daihachi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Plasticizer II; xe2x80x9cADEKACIZER RS107xe2x80x9d manufactured by Asahi Denka Kogyo K.K.
Plasticizer III; dioctyl phthalate
Lubricant; sorbitan monostearate, xe2x80x9cSPLENDER R300xe2x80x9d manufactured by Kao Corporation
Acid receiving agent I; synthetic zeolite (I), A-type zeolite, xe2x80x9cMIZUKALIZER DSxe2x80x9d manufactured by Mizusawa Industrial Chemicals, Ltd.
Acid receiving agent II; synthetic zeolite (II), X-type zeolite, xe2x80x9cMolecular Sieves 13Xxe2x80x9d manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Acid receiving agent III; highly active magnesium oxide, xe2x80x9cMgO#150xe2x80x9d manufactured by Kyowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Vulcanizing agent I; 2,4,6-trimercapto-1,3,5-triazine
Vulcanizing agent II; 2-anilino-4,6-dimercaptotriazine
Vulcanizing agent III; 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole
Vulcanizing agent IV; 2,2xe2x80x2-dimercapto-5,5xe2x80x2-dithiobis(1,3,4-thiadiazole)
Vulcanizing agent V; 2,2xe2x80x2-di(butoxymethyl)-5,5xe2x80x2-dithiobis(1,3,4-thiadiazole)
Vulcanizing agent VI; dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide
Vulcanizing agent VII; 6-methylquinoxaline-2,3-dithiocarbonate
Organic vulcanization accelerator I; dicyclohexylamine salt of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole
Organic vulcanization accelerator II; dibutylamine
Organic vulcanization accelerator III; condensate of n-butyraldehyde with aniline, xe2x80x9cNOCCEIER 8xe2x80x9d manufactured by Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
Organic vulcanization accelerator IV; N.N-dicyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolylsulfeneamide, xe2x80x9cNOCCELER DZxe2x80x9d manufactured by Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
Organic vulcanization accelerator V; tetrabutylammonium chloride
Organic vulcanization accelerator VI; tetramethylthiuram disulfide, xe2x80x9cNOCCELER TTxe2x80x9d manufactured by Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
Organic vulcanization accelerator VII; N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolylsulfeneamide, xe2x80x9cNOCCELER CZxe2x80x9d manufactured by Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
Organic vulcanization accelerator VIII; a salt of DBU and a phenolic resin, xe2x80x9cP-152xe2x80x9d manufactured by DAISO CO., LTD.
Organic vulcanization accelerator IX; dibenzothiazyl disulfide, xe2x80x9cNOCCELER DMxe2x80x9d manufactured by Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
Organic vulcanization accelerator X; tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, xe2x80x9cNOCCELER TSxe2x80x9d manufactured by Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
Inorganic vulcanization accelerator I; calcium carbonate, xe2x80x9cHAKUENKA Oxe2x80x9d manufactured by Shiraishi Kogyo Kaisha, Ltd.
Inorganic vulcanization accelerator II; resin acid-treated calcium carbonate, xe2x80x9cHAKUENKA CCxe2x80x9d manufactured by Shiraishi Kogyo Kaisha, Ltd.
Inorganic vulcanization accelerator III; light calcium carbonate, xe2x80x9cSILVER Wxe2x80x9d manufactured by Shiraishi Kogyo Kaisha, Ltd.
Inorganic vulcanization accelerator IV; calcium silicate, xe2x80x9cSOLEX CMxe2x80x9d manufactured by TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
Inorganic vulcanization accelerator V; white filler, basic silicon dioxide (pH=10), xe2x80x9cCARPLEX #1120xe2x80x9d manufactured by Shionogi and Co., Ltd.
White filler I; magnesium silicate, xe2x80x9cMISTRON VAPOR TALCxe2x80x9d manufactured by Nihon Mistron Co., Ltd.
White filler II; magnesium silicate, xe2x80x9cHIGH TORONxe2x80x9d manufactured by TAKEHARA KAGAKUKOGYO Co., Ltd.
White filler III; anhydrous aluminum silicate, xe2x80x9cICE BERGxe2x80x9d manufactured by Burgess Pigment Company
Anti-aging agent; nickel dibutyldithiocarbamate, xe2x80x9cNOCRAC NBCxe2x80x9d manufactured by Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
White carbon: xe2x80x9cNip SIL VN-3xe2x80x9d manufactured by Nippon Silica Industrial Co., Ltd.
Light calcium carbonate: xe2x80x9cAKADAMAxe2x80x9d manufactured by Shiraishi Kogyo Kaisha, Ltd.
Calcium hydroxide: xe2x80x9cCARBITxe2x80x9d manufactured by Ohmi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Anti-scorching agent: N-(cyclohexylthio)phthalimide, xe2x80x9cPVIxe2x80x9d manufactured by Monsanto Japan, Ltd.

Chlorine-containing polymer vulcanizing composition


The present invention relates to a room atmosphere creating system having a microprocessor electrically connected to a sensing circuit, a storage memory, and a distributing unit. The distributing unit is connected to an atmosphere circuit. The microprocessor transmits the room atmosphere conditions in the storage memory to the atmosphere circuit via the distributing unit. The room atmosphere conditions controlled by the atmosphere circuit are divided into audio condition, light condition, and temperature condition. The light device, temperature device, and audio device generate corresponding room atmosphere effects to synchronously control the light, temperature, and audio effects in accordance with the room atmosphere mode set by the user, and in cooperation with the wireless circuit for receiving the room atmosphere conditions transmitted by the wireless remote control, remote controlling of the room atmosphere conditions is able to be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is to provide a room atmosphere creating system, in particular a system which can control the effects of light, temperature, and audio in accordance with the room atmosphere mode set by the user.
2. Related Art
Most of traditional lights are used for illuminating and inable to create special room atmosphere. In addition, there is no connection or integration among the lights, and the controlling method thereof only involves switch on/off. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange the light intensity, color, and hue of different lights integrally. Along with the improvement of quality of life, people of nowadays desire light devices which can be modified in accordance with the room atmosphere condition in the illumination environment. Also, for the convenience of integrally control and disposition, a system for integrating various lighting devices via wireless transmission is further required.

Room lighting atmosphere creating system

Abstract: If there is an emergency such as a fire alarm, the system may immediately stop the normal visual and audio effects and generate warning signals.


There is disclosed a method capable of resetting a fault tolerant computer in complete synchronization among modules. The method includes a step of generating a reset requesting signal by one of the modules, a step of dividing the reset requesting signal to first and second reset requesting signals, a step of transmitting the second reset requesting signal to the other module, a step of delaying the first reset requesting signal in the one module by a time required for transmitting the second reset requesting signal to the other module, a step of resetting at least one CPU included in the one module by a first CPU reset signal generated based on the first reset requesting signal delayed in the one module, and a step of resetting at least one CPU included in the other module by a second CPU reset signal generated based on the second reset requesting signal transmitted to the other module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a system for resetting a fault tolerant computer system equipped with a plurality of modules.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regarding a computer that provides high reliability, there has conventionally been available a fault tolerant computer system. The fault tolerant computer duplexes or multiplexes hardware modules constituting a system to operate all the modules in synchronization, and cuts off a module to continue processing by a normal module even when a fault occurs in a certain area, thereby enhancing fault tolerance.
The fault tolerance computer basically includes hardware modules such as a CPU, a memory and an I/O device to be duplexed or triplexed, and a fault tolerance control section ("FT control section" hereinafter) connected to the modules to execute synchronous operation processing, switching control at the time of a fault, or the like. FIG. 1 shows an example of a system in which a CPU, a memory and an I/O device are duplexed. In the drawing, a CPU (group) 901 and a main memory 902 constitute one CPU subsystem 903-1, and it is duplexed with another CPU subsystem 903-2 of a completely identical configuration. Similarly, I/O devices (groups) of identical configurations are duplexed to constitute an I/O subsystem 904.
The FT control section is positioned in a center thereof to control the modules (CPU subsystems 903-1, 903-2, and I/O subsystem 904). It controls maintenance of synchronous operations of both CPU subsystems 903-1 and 903-2, detection of faults, and cutting-off of a fault module.
Generally, the fault tolerant computer is divided into a section for duplexing and controlling the modules by hardware and a section for duplexing and controlling the same by software.
For example, the CPU subsystem constituted of the CPU and the memory is itself a board on which software operates, and must be duplexed and controlled by hardware. Accordingly, when an error occurs in the CPU subsystem, the hardware (FT control section) cuts off the CPU or the memory from the system and executes control to prevent an influence on the CPU or the memory of a normal operation.
In FIG. 1, there are two CPU subsystems 903-1 and 903-2. A fault side is logically cut off by the FT control section, and an operation is continued by one CPU subsystem 903-1 (or 903-2) and the I/O subsystem 904.
On the other hand, when a fault occurs in the I/O device, the FT section that has detected the fault announces an error to software ("I/O device driver" hereinafter) for controlling the I/O device, whereby I/O device switching can be executed by the software. In this case, the I/O device driver cancels use of the fault I/O device, and uses another duplexed I/O device instead.
This means switching of I/O devices 905 to be used in the I/O subsystem 904.
The CPU subsystems 903-1, 903-2 of the fault tolerant computer must be operated by completely identical clocks, and it is important to achieve sameness in reset releasing timing for starting operations of the CPU's.
According to a conventional method, e.g., JP-A-9-128258 "Resynchronous Reset Processing Method of Computer System", an intersystem synchronization section connected to both processors simultaneously issues resets to CPU's.
According to a system described in JP-A-9-128258, it is easy to simultaneously issue resets to a plurality of CPU's as one intersystem control section issues resets. However, presence of only one intersystem synchronization section creates a risk that the system will not start when a fault occurs therein. Especially, since there is no mention of a case in which intersystem control sections are duplexed, how to simultaneously issue resets to CPU's is not described.
There are only a few other documents which specifically touch on synchronous reset control to a plurality of CPU's. A reason is that a CPU synchronization method uses not a reset but interruption synchronism as a starting point, for example, as described in JP-A-7-073059. For example, according to a method frequently used conventionally, an operating system or system software operating on a CPU stops at a certain check point, and a synchronous operation is started upon reception of an interruption input from a synchronous control section.
According to this method, however, an internal state of the CPU must be completely understood to guarantee that the internal state of the CPU is completely the same at the time of a stop at the check point. Otherwise, even when interruptions are simultaneously applied to the CPU's, enormous internal logics of the CPU's are not always maintained in the same state, and consequently synchronism of operations thereafter cannot be guaranteed.
That is, while the CPU is engaged in loop processing to wait for interruptions by the operating system or the system software, even in a CPU stopped state seen from the outside, many logics still operate in the CPU, such as processing of a loop command of the operating system or the system software, or system bus monitoring to wait for interruptions. In the CPU, prediction processing is carried out to achieve a high speed. However, prediction contents may vary from CPU to CPU. Furthermore, even a difference in refreshing timing or address of the main memory between the CPU subsystems may cause a variance in internal states of the CPU's.
In the old type CPU, the synchronization method that uses an interruption as a starting point may be effective. However, because of recent increases in size and complexity of internal logics of the CPU, it is virtually impossible to change the CPU that has started an operation to the completely identical state by software. To solve this problem, therefore, a method of completely synchronizing reset signals to reset all the internal logics of the CPU to input them to the CPU is the only way.

Method and system for resetting fault tolerant computer system