A method for producing a silicon carbide single crystal, which comprises bringing a silicon carbide single crystal substrate into contact with a melt prepared by melting a raw material containing Si and C, and growing a silicon carbide single crystal on the substrate, the method including performing a cycle comprising the following steps (a) and (b):                a) a step of bringing the seed crystal substrate into contact with the surface of the melt, growing a single crystal, and separating the seed crystal substrate from the surface of the melt thereby interrupting the growth of the single crystal, and        b) a step of bringing the seed crystal substrate into contact with the surface of the melt and growing a single crystal, at least one time, wherein the seed crystal is a 6H-silicon carbide single crystal or a 15R-silicon carbide single crystal and the resulting single crystal is a 4H-silicon carbide single crystal.

Silicon carbide is thermally and chemically very stable and is excellent in heat resistance and mechanical strength, and is therefore used as an environment resistant semiconductor material. It is also known that silicon carbide has a crystalline polytype structure. Crystal polytype is a phenomenon in which crystals have a lot of various structures even in the case of the same chemical composition. Assuming that a molecule obtained by combining Si and C is as one unit in a crystal structure, the crystal polymerization in caused by the fact that a periodic structure in case of laminating this unit structural molecule in the c-axis direction ([0001] direction) of the crystal varies.
Typical crystal polytype includes 2H, 3C, 4H, 6H and 15R. Herein, a first numeral denotes a repeating period of lamination, a letter denotes a crystal system, i.e., H denotes a hexagonal system, R denotes a rhombohedral system, and C denotes a cubic system. The respective crystal structures differ in physical and electrical characteristics and application for various uses is considered utilizing the difference. For example, 4H is used as a substrate wafer of a high frequency and high voltage resistant electric device and also 6H is used as a light emitter material for blue LED because its band gap is so large as about 3 eV. 3C is a semiconductor element material capable of operating at a high speed because of high the symmetric property of a crystal and large mobility of electrons.
Incidentally, as a method for growing a silicon carbide single crystal, for example, a vapor phase growth method, an Acheson method and a solution growth method have conventionally been known.
The vapor phase growth method includes, for example, a sublimation method (improved relay method) and a chemical vapor deposition (CVD method). The sublimation method is a method comprising sublimating a silicon carbide powder as a raw material at a high temperature of 2,000° C. or higher, and supersaturating Si, Si2C and a Si2C gas on a seed crystal substrate maintained at a low temperature thereby depositing a single crystal. The CVD method is a method comprising performing epitaxially growing a silicon carbide single crystal on a heated substrate made of Si using a silane gas and a hydrocarbon-based gas, and is used to produce a silicon carbide single crystal.
The Acheson method is a method comprising heating silicic anhydride and carbon to a high temperature of 2,000° C. or higher to produce an artificial abrasive and a single crystal is produced as a by-product.
The solution method is a method comprising melting silicon in a crucible made of a material containing carbon (generally graphite) to give a melt, dissolving carbon from the crucible in the melt, crystallizing silicon carbide on a seed crystal substrate disposed at the low temperature portion, and growing the crystal.
However, it is known that various lattice defects such as a hollow penetrating defect and stacking fault called as micropipe defect are present in the single crystal produced by the above sublimation method. Furthermore, since crystal growth is closely related to polytype transition in the sublimation method, it is difficult to reconcile control of lattice defects and control of polytype transition thereby causing such a problem that crystal polytype is likely to occur.
Also, since a small amount of a raw material is supplied because a raw material is supplied in the form of a gas in the CVD method, and the silicon carbide single crystal to be produced is limited to a thin film and it is difficult to produce a bulk single crystal as a substrate material for device.
In the Acheson method, a large amount of impurities are present in a raw material and it is difficult to enhance purity, and it is also possible to obtain a large size crystal.
On the other hand, in the solution method, since fewer lattice defects exist and also crystal polytype rarely occurs, a single crystal having good crystallinity can be obtained.
A single crystal is produced by growing (laminating) a crystal in a specific direction, and in the vapor phase method such as a sublimation method, a single crystal having a property, which is different from that of a conventional single crystal, grows on the border of certain lamination, namely, transformation of crystal polytype occurs. On the other hand, although transformation of crystal polytype can be prevented in the solution method, the resulting crystal has the same crystal structure as that of a seed crystal and a silicon carbide single crystal having a derived crystal structure cannot be obtained by controlling transformation of crystal polytype regardless of the crystal structure of the seed crystal.
Incidentally, as described above, it is now considered that a 4H-silicon carbide single crystal is suitable for applications related to a device because of its large electron mobility, inhibition band width and electrolysis breakdown, small anisotropy of electrical conduction and comparatively shallow donor or acceptor level. However, a 4H-silicon carbide scarcely exists in a relay crystal (SiC crystal made by a relay method) used as a seed crystal. Also, since the relay crystal is used as a seed crystal in the solution method, it has been difficult to produce a 4H-silicon carbide seed crystal.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem and provide a method capable of producing a desired 4H-silicon carbide single crystal from 6H or 15R by transforming a crystal polytype using a 6H-silicon carbide single crystal or a 15R-silicon carbide single crystal as a seed crystal.

Method for producing silicon carbide single crystal


A system has at least one bus, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled with the bus, a memory coupled with the bus, a direct memory access (DMA) controller having a plurality of DMA channels and operating independently from the CPU and being coupled with the bus, wherein for access to the bus the DMA controller is programmable in a first mode to have priority over the CPU and in a second mode in which at least one DMA channel of the DMA controller is suspended from accessing the bus.

Direct memory access controller (DMA) are typically used in microprocessor systems, integrated microcontrollers, etc. DMA controllers are used to perform a data transfer from and to memory to and from a peripheral independently from the central processing unit of the computer system. To this end, a DMA controller can be seen as a second programmable processing unit with limited capabilities. Generally, a DMA controller is instructed to transfer a specific amount of data from a source location to a destination location. The source can be within a memory, for example, a data memory of a microcontroller, memory of a peripheral, or data generated by or accessible within a peripheral, such as an analog to digital converter, a port, a capture compare unit, etc. The destination can also be within a memory, thus, allowing high speed transfers within a memory device of a computer system or microcontroller. However, the destination can also be a peripheral, such as a digital to analog converter, a port, etc. To transfer data from a source to a destination the DMA controller must receive the respective source and destination addresses. In addition, each transfer length needs to be specified. To this end, the DMA controller needs to receive either the length of the data transfer or the start and end address of the data to be transferred.
Moreover, DMA controllers are used to support the central processing unit (CPU) in a system, in particular for lengthy data transfers. The CPU is then free to perform other functions. However, CPU and DMA controller share the same memory bus system. Thus, to prohibit any type of collision between CPU and DMA when accessing the bus, which may stall the DMA by the CPU, the DMA usually has priority over the CPU which is prohibited from accessing the memory bus while a transfer is in progress. Even though the CPU can perform other functions that do not involve an access to the shared memory bus, this DMA priority may limit the flexibility of a system. Thus, there exists a need for a improved system having a DMA controller.


An image processing apparatus enlarges the number of pixels of first image data made of a luminance signal and a color-difference signal in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction, and causes each pixel to have a luminance signal and a color-difference signal to convert the image data made of the luminance signal and the color-difference signal into image data of a Bayer array made of R, G1, G2, and B signals. The image processing apparatus generates a luminance signal using one of the G1 signal and the G2 signal, the R signal, and the B signal in the image data of the Bayer array.

1. Field of the Invention
One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
RAW and Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) are well-known file formats generated by a digital camera.
A sensor of the digital camera often employs a Bayer array including a two-dimensional array of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). In image data in a RAW format, each pixel includes a signal of a color corresponding to any of color filters according to the two-dimensional array of the color filters of an image sensor. A file in the RAW format is suitable for a case in which white balance processing for adjusting a balance of signal intensity among colors corresponding to the color filters or lateral chromatic aberration correction for adjusting an aberration due to a deviation of image forming positions among the colors are performed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2008-015946 discusses the lateral chromatic aberration correction is performed after image data in the RAW format is separated into image data made of signals of respective colors.
The image data in the RAW format has large data capacity and cannot be opened with a general-purpose image display viewer. Therefore, typically, interpolation processing for causing each pixel of the image data to have signals of all of the R, G, and B colors is performed, and a luminance signal (Y) and color-difference signals (U, V) are generated from the image data after the interpolation to generate a file in a JPEG format made of Y, U, and V image data.
Then, in the process for generating image data in the JPEG format from the image data in the RAW format, a high-frequency component is extracted from the luminance signal Y and edge enhancement processing is applied thereto, or an interpolation direction is determined when the color-difference signals U and V are generated so that false color suppression processing is applied.
In recent years, there is a demand for changing parameters of the white balance processing or the lateral chromatic aberration correction with respect to the Y, U, and V image data.
Therefore, in such a case, it can be considered to convert the Y, U, and V image data into R, G, and B image data, and to execute the white balance processing or the lateral chromatic aberration correction again with desired parameters.
However, a digital camera is often configured from the above-described image processing circuit using dedicated hardware for acceleration of the processing. That is, a camera including an image sensor of the Bayer array is provided with a module that expects an input of image data in the RAW format obtained by the image sensor of the Bayer array.
For example, when image data in the JPEG format is configured in a YUV422 that is a YUV format, one luminance signal Y is allocated to each pixel and one color-difference signal U and one color-difference signal V are allocated to each of two pixels adjacent to the each pixel, in the image data. Therefore, the configuration is different from that of the Bayer array in which one of R, G, and B signals is allocated to one pixel, and the module configured for the Bayer array cannot process the image data of the YUV422 in the JPEG format. A similar problem is caused not only in the digital camera, but also in a device provided with a module configured for the Bayer array. In addition, for a similar reason, a problem that the Y, U, and V image data in the JPEG format cannot be processed is caused not only in hardware, but also in an image processing apparatus that only includes software incorporated for the Bayer array.
Here, it can be considered to convert the image data of the YUV422 into image data in the RAW format of the Bayer array by generating the R, G, and B signals in each pixel from the image data of the YUV422, and thinning out the image data for each color. A method for generating the image data in the RAW format of the Bayer array from the image data of the YUV422 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
FIG. 8A illustrates an example of a configuration of the image data of the YUV422. One luminance signal Y is allocated to each pixel, but one color-difference signal U and one color-difference signal V are allocated only to each of the two pixels adjacent to the each pixel. Therefore, the color-difference signals U and V are interpolated in the horizontal direction with respect to the image data illustrated in FIG. 8A, so that image data in which the Y, U, and V signals are allocated to each of the pixels is generated as illustrated in FIG. 8B.
R, G, and B signals in each pixel are calculated from the Y, U, and V image data after the interpolation illustrated in FIG. 8B according to the following formula 1:R=1.000Y+1.402V G =1.000Y−0.344U−0.714V B=1.000Y+1.772U   (formula 1)
FIG. 9A illustrates image data where the R, G, and B signals in each pixel have been calculated. A signal of a color corresponding to a color filter at a position of each pixel is selected from the image data illustrated in FIG. 9A to accord with the Bayer array. In doing so, image data of the Bayer array illustrated in FIG. 9B can be generated. Then, the image data of the Bayer array illustrated in FIG. 9B is again input to the module configured for the Bayer array, so that the white balance processing or the lateral chromatic aberration correction can be executed with different parameters.
Image data to which the white balance processing or the edge enhancement processing have been applied with the new parameters is again converted into image data in the JPEG format made of Y, U, and V. In generating the Y, U, and V image data from the R, G, and B image data of the Bayer array, it is necessary to perform calculation using the R, G, and B signals for the same pixel. Therefore, to generate the Y, U and V image data from the image data of the Bayer array illustrated in FIG. 9B, the interpolation processing for causing each pixel to have signals of all of the R, G, and B colors is performed as illustrated in FIG. 10.
The signals indicated by R′, G′, and B′ in the image data illustrated in FIG. 10 are signals obtained by the interpolation processing. The signals obtained by the interpolation processing are values obtained by weighted addition of neighbor signals of the same color and are values presumed from the neighbor signals. Accordingly, the signals have poor reproducibility in minute signal level change. Therefore, a band of the image data illustrated in FIG. 10 after the interpolation processing for R, G, and B is lower than that of the image data illustrated in FIG. 9A before the interpolation processing for R, G, and B, although both of the image data include all of the R, G, and B color signals in each pixel in a similar manner. That is, if the Y, U, and V image data is simply converted into the R, G, and B image data of the Bayer array and the R, G, and B image data is returned to the Y, U, and V image data again, the band of the image data is decreased.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium for increasing pixels


Provided are ergoline derivative containing medicaments disposed within a preassembled, prefilled, single-use delivery device, methods for administering a medicament using a preassembled, prefilled, single-use delivery device, and systems or kits that contain one or more preassembled, prefilled, single-use devices and user instructions, such as for treatment of a migraine or other headache.

Migraine is a genetic neurological disease characterized by episodes of migraine attacks. According to the National Headache Foundation, more than 37 million people in the United States suffer from migraines the majority of sufferers experience migraine attacks once or twice per month and more than 4 million people are experiencing at least 15 migraine days per month. The Migraine Research Foundation reports that migraine is the sixth most disabling illness in the world resulting in 1.2 million emergency room visits a year. This disease takes a significant toll on society. The Migraine Research Foundation reports more than Ninety percent of sufferers miss work or cannot function normally during a migraine attack and 20% of chronic migraine sufferers are classified as disabled. From an economic perspective, the Migraine Research Foundation reports that migraines are responsible for thirty-six billion dollars of healthcare and lost productivity costs annually in the United States alone. For sufferers who obtain prescription medication, the most common abortive treatment are triptans. Advantageously, triptans may be orally administered and do not require parenteral administration to be effective. However, while triptans are effective for many migraine sufferers, a significant minority do not have an effective response to triptans. Additionally, a study with sumatriptan (currently the top selling triptan) showed that 45% of the sumatriptan-treated patients had headache reoccurrence within 24 hours after treatment. Winner, P, et al., "A Double-Blind Study of Subcutaneous Dihydroergotamine vs. Subcutaneous Sumatriptan in the Treatment of Acute Migraine." Arc. Neural. 1996:53(2):180-4.
Cluster headaches are another neurological disease characterized by recurrent, excruciating unilateral headaches, typically around the eye. They are nicknamed "suicide headaches" because of the severity of pain and affect about 0.1% of the general population. Fischera, M, et al., "The Incidence and Prevalence of Cluster Headache: A Meta-Analysis of Population-Based Studies" Cephalalgia 28(6):614-8. Attacks often occur in cluster cycles with no remissions over a year. Weaver-Agostoni, J. (2013) "Cluster Headache" American Family Physician 88(2):122-8. Treatments for acute attacks include oxygen and fast-acting triptans. Like migraines, a significant minority of cluster headache sufferers do not respond effectively to triptans.
Dihydroergotamine (DHE) is an ergot alkaloid and a derivative of ergotamine. Dihydroergotamine Mesylate is an ergotamine hydrogenated in the 9, 10 position as the mesylate salt. Dihydroergotamine Mesylate is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of dihydroergotamine known chemically as ergotaman-3′,6′,18-trione,9,10-dihydro-12′-hydroxy-2′-methyl-5′-(phenylmethyl)-, (5′α)-,monomethanesulfonate and is represented by the following structural formula:

DHE has similar actions to triptans, acting as an agonist to the serotonin receptors and causing vasoconstriction of the intracranial blood vessels, but also interacts centrally with dopamine and adrenergic receptors. It binds with high affinity to 5-HT1 Dα and 5-HT1Dβ receptors. It also binds with high affinity to serotonin 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C receptors, noradrenaline α2A, α2B, and α, receptors, and dopamine D2L and D3 receptors.
Due to DHE's structure, it is poorly absorbed through the gut, and therefore oral dosage forms are not effective. Nasal DHE can be an effective dosage form but has been shown to have inconsistent effects. The nasal spray dosage form relies on uptake through tissues in the nose, which can lead to variable blood levels, with about 40% or less of the medication getting into the blood stream. Additionally, nearly half of the patients using the nasal spray dosage form complain of a bad taste after use. Matthew P., et aL, "DHE: An Old Dog with New Tricks . . . Maybe?" American Headache Foundation, Aug. 18, 2015.
Parenteral DHE offers benefits including rapid uptake and more consistent absorption than the nasal form. A comparison study of subcutaneous sumatriptan and subcutaneous DHE in the treatment of acute migraine concluded that the reoccurrence of migraines was 2½ times more likely with sumatriptan than with DHE during a 24-hour follow-up period. Winner, P, et al., "A double-blind study of subcutaneous dihydroergotamine v. subcutaneous sumatriptan in the Treatment of Acute Migraine" Arch. Neural. 1996; 53(4180-84.
Currently, a parenteral administration of DHE, either intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous is provided in emergency rooms or under other clinical setting and requires direct contact with a health-care professional. Therefore, a person experiencing a migraine or other type of headache in need of treatment is required to travel to an emergency room or clinic where a medical professional may administer a high concentration dose of an ergoline derivative or other medication. As a result, the patient is required to suffer in severe pain and endure the other symptoms during the time spent traveling and the time waiting at the medical facility for treatment, which, depending on the distance to be traveled and the particular medical facility, could be in excess of several hours before the patient receives treatment. Further, intravenous injections of ergoline derivatives, such as DHE, commonly cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and increased blood pressure, particularly when administered at higher concentrations. The patient may suffer severe pain and other symptoms during the time spent traveling and awaiting treatment, only to have the relief provided by the treatment offset by the side effects of the high concentration of the ergoline derivative.
While the possibility may exist for a patient to self-inject DHE, the patient will require training on the preparation and administration of the DHE. For example, the prescribing information for D.H.E. 45® instructs that a patient requires professions instruction on how to properly administer the medication. The prescribing information continues to list 6 steps with a total of nineteen sub-steps to comply with while preparing for and administering a self-injection. These steps include, carefully examining the ampul of D.H.E. 45® for any cracks or breaks and the liquid for discoloration, cloudiness, or particles. Further, steps include how to draw the medication into the syringe by:
A. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
B. Check the dose of your medication.
C. Look to see if there is any liquid at the top of the ampul. If there is, gently flick the ampul with your finger to get all the liquid into the bottom portion of the ampul.
D. Hold the bottom of the ampul in one hand. Clean the ampul neck with an alcohol wipe using the other hand. To break, place the alcohol wipe around the neck of the ampul and break it open by pressing your thumb against the neck of the ampul.
E. Tilt the ampul down at a 45° angle. Insert the needle into the solution in the ampul. F. Draw up the medication by pulling back the plunger slowly and steadily until you reach your dose.
G. Check the syringe for air bubbles. Hold it with the needle pointing upward. If there are air bubbles, tap your finger against the barrel of the syringe to get the bubbles to the top. Slowly and carefully push the plunger up so that the bubbles are pushed out through the needle and you see a drop of medication.
H. When there are no air bubbles, check the dose of the medication. If the dose is incorrect, repeat steps F, G and H until you draw up the right dose.
Each of these steps would be performed by a patient while suffering severe pain from a migraine and other side effect symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound, which creates added difficulty in completing those required steps.
Accordingly, a very real need currently exists for an improved medicament that contains a therapeutically effective amount of an ergoline derivative that can easily and quickly be administered outside of the clinical setting, thereby making it more viable for users to self-administer such a medicament when experiencing a migraine or other type of headache. Such a product would allow patients to receive treatment sooner, making treatment portable, and generally improving the user experience and accessibility to treatment.
Additionally, migraines and other headaches are a significant reason for emergency room visits, with over one-million visits per year in the U.S. alone. Accordingly, there exists a need to reduce demand on emergency rooms from patients experiencing a migraine or other headache. The present invention provides improvements which permit the treatment of migraines outside of a clinical setting in a manner that will quickly deliver the medicament to the user and effectively providing faster relief.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Low concentration delivery of an ergoline derivative for treatment of a headache


A baffle for use with an environmental sensor such as a particle counter. The environmental sensor includes a housing and an inlet. The inlet has an axis and defines a first cross-sectional area with respect to the axis. The baffle includes a bullet configured to be positioned adjacent to the inlet along the axis. The bullet has a second cross-sectional area with respect to the axis that is between about seventy-five percent smaller than the first cross-sectional area and about three-hundred percent larger than the first cross-sectional area. In some constructions, the baffle substantially reduces interference from external light sources without substantially inhibiting the transport of particles entrained in the fluid to be analyzed by the environmental sensor.

The invention relates to an environmental sensor. More particularly, the invention relates to an environmental sensor having a baffle, which acts as a light blocker.
Environmental sensors are useful in a variety of applications. For example, environmental sensors include tobacco smoke monitors used to determine the dust content and tobacco content in the environment, digital dust indicators that use scattered light to determine the relative dust concentration in the environment, or digital dust monitors that use laser light to determine the relative dust concentration in the environment. Environmental sensors also include personal dust sensors used to measure and log personal exposure to aerosols, indoor pollution evaluating systems used to monitor, among other things, carbon dioxide and dust, and particle mass monitors used to quantify mass and size of airborne particles. Generally, the environmental sensors receive a fluid flow from the surrounding environment to monitor a property of the environment (e.g., a specific particle in the air). However, some environmental sensors may be susceptible to false or improper readings due to light from the environment.
In one application, the environmental sensor may be an airborne particle counter that draws an airflow though an inlet or air passage and into a scattering chamber to count and monitor particles (e.g., dirt, dust, microorganisms, etc.) in the airflow. The particle counter can illuminate the airflow with a light, causing particles within the airflow to scatter some of the light. The scattered light is reflected by mirrored surfaces in the scattering chamber onto a light sensitive detector, producing electrical pulses that are sized and counted.


A semiconductor device package includes a substrate, at least one component, a package body, a first conductive layer, a first shielding layer, a second shielding layer and a second conductive layer. The component is disposed on a first surface of the substrate. The package body is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and covers the component. The first conductive layer covers the package body and at least a portion of the substrate. The first shielding layer covers the first conductive layer and has a first thickness and includes a high conductivity material. The second shielding layer covers the first shielding layer and has a second thickness and includes a high permeability material. A ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness being in a range of 0.2 to 3. The second conductive layer covers the second shielding layer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor device packages. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to semiconductor device packages with electromagnetic interference shielding.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices have become progressively more complex, driven at least in part by the demand for enhanced processing speeds and smaller sizes. While the benefits of enhanced processing speeds and smaller sizes are apparent, these characteristics of semiconductor devices also can create problems. In particular, higher clock speeds can involve more frequent transitions between signal levels, which, in turn, can lead to a higher level of electromagnetic emissions at higher frequencies or shorter wavelengths. Electromagnetic emissions can radiate from a source semiconductor device, and can be incident upon neighboring semiconductor devices. If the level of electromagnetic emissions at a neighboring semiconductor device is sufficiently high, these emissions can adversely affect the operation of that semiconductor device. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as electromagnetic interference (EMI). Smaller sized semiconductor devices can exacerbate EMI by providing a higher density of those semiconductor devices within an overall electronic system, and, thus, a higher level of undesired electromagnetic emissions at a neighboring semiconductor device.
One way to reduce EMI is to shield a set of semiconductor devices within a semiconductor device package. In particular, shielding can be accomplished by including an electrically conductive casing or housing that is electrically grounded and is secured to an exterior of the package. When electromagnetic emissions from an interior of the package strike an inner surface of the casing, at least a portion of these emissions can be electrically shorted, thereby reducing the level of emissions that can pass through the casing and adversely affect neighboring semiconductor devices. Similarly, when electromagnetic emissions from a neighboring semiconductor device strike an outer surface of the casing, a similar electrical shorting can occur to reduce EMI of semiconductor devices within the package.
Moreover, signals at a lower frequency (e.g., under 1 Giga-Herz (GHz)) being transferred at a higher data rate may also lead to a higher level of electromagnetic emissions. Currently available electrically conductive casing or housing may be capable of dealing with emissions radiated from an electric field generated by a source semiconductor device. However, emissions radiated from a magnetic field or source induced by lower frequency signals transferred at a higher data rate can pass through the electrically conductive casing or housing, and adversely affect the operation of a neighboring semiconductor device.
It is against this background that a need arose to develop the semiconductor device packages and related methods described herein.

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


A helmet that includes an outer shell having at least a first outer magnetic member, an inner shell having at least a first inner magnetic member, and padding secured inside the inner shell. The first inner magnetic member is spaced from and opposed to the first outer magnetic member, such that the first inner magnetic member repels the first outer magnetic member. The outer shell is connected to the inner shell.

Helmets in sports, military and law enforcement are generally composed of an outer shell and an inner liner. Depending on the intended use (impact vs. ballistic) the shell can be made of a thermoplastic, ABS, polycarbonate, carbon fiber, Kevlar, or any number of other materials known to those skilled in the art. Liners evolved from a simple strap or web suspension system meant to separate the wearer's head from the shell to designs utilizing fluid displacement, air, and/or crushable foam in one or more layers tailored to respond to varying impact strengths.
With respect to head impacts and trauma, the most common injuries result from direct impacts resulting in linear acceleration of the head, and tangential blows resulting in angular or rotational acceleration. The energy transfer from a direct impact may result in either or both linear and rotational acceleration of the brain inside the skull. The consistency of brain material is similar to gelatin and once accelerated inside the skull the brain impacts the side of the skull opposite the impact. The point of impact is called the "coup," and the "slap" injury from the brain impacting the opposite side of the skull is called the "contra-coup injury." Bleeding and tissue damage frequently occur at both sides with adequate trauma. Furthermore, the inner surface of the skull has many depressions and ridges of bone. Some areas are particularly rough, and as the brain travels over these surfaces additional damage and bleeding can occur. Underdeveloped brains of adolescents incur damages that may not show up until later in adulthood. The human brain does not fully develop until well in the 20's.
Tangential impacts impart a rotational acceleration to the brain. Different types of brain material have slightly different density, and as such experience greater or lesser rotational momentum under such circumstances. This difference in momentum results in shear forces that tear the brain matter, and more specifically, axons. In severe cases, this results in diffuse axonal injury. Shear injuries are also common at points of relative attachment/securement or immobility within the brain, such as the corpus callosum.
Varying degrees of these patterns of injury account for the dramatic number of concussive and sub concussive injuries observed in professional, collegiate, and youth sports. These injuries can result in life-threatening consequences; however, more frequently result in residual cognitive and behavior deficits. Ongoing exposure can result in temporary loss of brain function leading to cognitive, physical and emotional symptoms, such as confusion, vomiting, headache, nausea, depression, disturbed sleep, moodiness, and amnesia leading to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy ("CTE"), a neurodegenerative condition with similarities to Alzheimer's Disease.
To this point, the helmet shell has done little more than prevent penetrating trauma and skull fractures, which is what it was originally designed for and continues to perform. Much work has been performed on the liner systems to attempt to mitigate energy transfer to the wearer. Current liner systems employed have a maximal extent of compressibility after which their ability to mitigate energy transfer is markedly diminished. These liner systems are best suited to direct impacts where the compressibility of the foam or fluid systems mitigates a portion of the energy transfer to the wearer. However, in the setting of more tangential impacts resulting in rotational acceleration, these methods offer little to prevent injury. At the time of impact the shell experiences an immediate rotational acceleration, which is directly imparted to the liner system, as they are mechanically connected. Current liner systems are optimally suited to dissipate energy in a plane perpendicular to the shell and liner surface offering little in the form of energy dissipation and attenuation prior to rotational energy transfer to the wearer.

Helmet including magnetic suspension system


A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from multiple combustion sources. The invention involves directing an exhaust gas stream from one combustion step to a carbon capture step. An off-gas stream depleted in carbon dioxide from the carbon capture step is mixed with a second exhaust stream from a second combustion step to form a mixed gas stream. The mixed gas stream is passed as a feed stream across the feed side of a membrane that is selectively permeable to carbon dioxide over nitrogen and carbon dioxide over oxygen. A sweep gas stream, usually air, flows across the permeate side, and picks up the preferentially permeating carbon dioxide. The permeate stream withdrawn from the permeate side of the membrane is then recycled back to the combustor.

Presented below is background information on certain aspects of the present invention as they may relate to technical features referred to in the detailed description, but not necessarily described in detail. The discussion below should not be construed as an admission as to the relevance of the information to the claimed invention or the prior art effect of the material described.
Exhaust gases from many combustion processes are contaminated with carbon dioxide when emitted into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and environmental damage. Such gas streams are difficult to treat in ways that are both technically and economically practical.
Gas separation by means of membranes is a well-established technology. In an industrial setting, a total pressure difference is usually applied between the feed and permeate sides, typically by compressing the feed stream or maintaining the permeate side of the membrane under partial vacuum.
Although permeation by creating a feed to permeate pressure difference is the most common process, it is known in the literature that a driving force for transmembrane permeation may be supplied by passing a sweep gas across the permeate side of the membranes, thereby lowering the partial pressure of a desired permeant on that side to a level below its partial pressure on the feed side. In this case, the total pressure on both sides of the membrane may be the same, the total pressure on the permeate side may be higher than on the feed side, or there may be additional driving force provided by keeping the total feed pressure higher than the total permeate pressure.
One such sweep-based membrane separation process for treating an exhaust gas is presented in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,020. A simple flow scheme for that process is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to this figure, fuel stream 101, and air, oxygen-enriched air or oxygen stream 113, are introduced into a combustion step or zone, 103. Stream 113 is made up of sweep stream, 112, discussed below, and additional air or oxygen supply, stream 102.
Combustion exhaust stream, 104, typically containing 10-20 vol % carbon dioxide, is withdrawn. The stream is sent, at least in part, to carbon dioxide capture step, 105, that produces a concentrated (greater than 60 vol %) carbon dioxide product stream, 106, from the exhaust stream. The concentrated stream, 106, may be further concentrated in a second step and sent for sequestration, or used or disposed of in any other appropriate way.
The off-gas stream, 107, from the capture step still contains carbon dioxide, at a lower concentration than the raw exhaust stream. This concentration may be up to about 10 vol % carbon dioxide for coal-fired boilers, lower for gas-fired boilers. The off-gas stream is sent for treatment in membrane separation step or unit, 108. The unit contains membranes, 109, that are selectively permeable to carbon dioxide over nitrogen and to carbon dioxide over oxygen.
The off-gas flows across the feed side of the membranes; a sweep gas of air, oxygen-enriched air or oxygen, stream 111, flows across the permeate side. The sweep stream picks up the preferentially permeating carbon dioxide, and the resulting permeate stream, 112, is withdrawn from the membrane unit and is combined with stream 102 to form the air or oxygen feed, 113, to the combustor.
The residue stream, 110, is reduced in carbon dioxide content to less than about 5 vol % and is typically discharged to the environment.
Some of the additional beneficial consequences of using the combustion air or oxygen supply as the permeate sweep in this process is that the permeating carbon dioxide removed into the sweep gas is recycled to the combustion chamber. This increases the carbon dioxide concentration in the exhaust gas leaving the combustor, facilitating the downstream capture of carbon dioxide.
Despite the advantages of the above process, at some locations, there are several exhaust streams that contain carbon dioxide, which are produced from multiple combustion processes or units, such as boilers, furnaces, or ovens. As such, implementing multiple carbon capture systems to treat the exhaust streams from each combustion source would be expensive and capital intensive.
Additionally, the above process requires that the operating conditions of the combustion unit be modified since the air stream entering the combustion unit is diluted, resulting in a reduced concentration of oxygen compared to its conventional operation. Since most combustion units are optimized to work within a specific range of oxygen content, any decrease in oxygen levels would affect the efficiency of the combustion unit and the overall plant. For example, when this process is applied to coal power plants, studies have shown that the power plant boiler can operate with an air combustion stream containing as little as 18% oxygen. However, even after the boiler has been modified to work with this oxygen content, the plant will suffer a 1-2% reduction in efficiency. Similarly, natural gas power turbines can operate with as little as 15% oxygen, but again, a reduction in power output results.
Thus, it would be beneficial to develop a single process that is able to treat multiple exhaust gas streams from different combustion sources where a sweep-stream is recycled back to only one of the combustion sources. In this way, the cost of modifying the combustion unit and the loss in efficiency mentioned above would only be incurred by one combustion unit although the carbon dioxide would be captured from several.

Sweep-based membrane separation process for removing carbon dioxide from exhaust gases generated by multiple combustion sources


The invention provides a microscope having high utilization efficiency of light from a light source and capable of using a bright, uniform line illumination. The microscope includes a plurality of light sources; a collimator lens that substantially collimates light from the light sources; a cylindrical lens having a flat surface orthogonal to the optical axis of light emitted from the collimator lens, and a cylindrical surface whose longitudinal axis is disposed parallel to the arrayed direction of the light sources; and an objective lens that illuminates a specimen with light from the cylindrical lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microscope including a line illumination.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known microscopes including line illumination include, for example, those disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Applications Publication Nos. HEI-7-120681, HEI-10-104523, and 2003-167197.
In the microscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. HEI-7-120681, which includes a conventional incident-illumination optical system with a single light source, a cylindrical lens is inserted between an aperture stop and an objective lens, and a circular beam of light formed by the aperture stop is focused to a straight line by the cylindrical lens to form a line illumination. Some of the light from the light source is thus wasted.
In the microscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. HEI-10-104523, optical fibers are arranged side-by-side to form a line-shaped light source, and the light from this light source passes through a slit to form a line illumination.
In the microscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-167197, a plurality of slits are arranged near a light source, and the light beams passing through these slits form a line illumination serving as illumination light. This arrangement has high light utilization efficiency.
However, in the microscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. HEI-7-120681, since a circular beam is focused to a straight line by the cylindrical lens, the illumination is elliptical. Furthermore, this microscope suffers from the problem of luminance variation at the central region and the peripheral region of the ellipse.
The microscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. HEI-10-104523 suffers from the problem in that the optical fibers serving as the light source have low light utilization efficiency.
In the microscope disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-167197, since only the light passing through the slits forms the line illumination, there is still a large amount of light that cannot pass through the slits, and therefore, the light utilization efficiency is not high enough.


A solid formulation of clopidogrel bisulfate and its preparation method are disclosed. The formulation includes clopidogrel bisulfate as active ingredient, colloidal silicon dioxide as anti-adherent/coating and the carriers selected from diluent, binder, glidant, disintegrant and/or lubricant.

Chemically Clopidogrel bisulfate is methyl (+)-(S)-α(2-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine-5(4H)-acetate sulfate (1:1).
One of Clopidogrel bisulfate structural formula is as follows:

Clopidogrel bisulfate is an inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation acting by direct inhibition of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) binding to its receptor and of the subsequent ADP-mediated activation of the glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa complex. In addition to ADP, Clopidogrel also block the release of ADP from the platelet activation caused by the proliferation, inhibit platelet aggregation induced by other agonists. Clopidogrel did not inhibit phosphodiesterase activity. Clopidogrel irreversibly modified by platelet ADP receptor.
Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulphate tablet), a product of Sanofi-Aventis Company Limited, has been shown to reduce the rate of a combined endpoint of new ischemic stroke (fatal or not), new MI (fatal or not), and other vascular accidents resulting in death, and decrease the rate of a combined endpoint of cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke as well as the rate of a combined endpoint of cardiovascular death, MI, stroke, or refractory ischemia. Plavix also has been shown to reduce the rate of death from any cause and the rate of a combined endpoint of death, re-infarction or stroke.
In the Chinese market, Clopidogrel Bisulphate tablet of Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceutical Company Limited-Talcom (the equivalent of 25 mg Clopidogrel) is used for preventing and treating heart, brain and other artery circulatory disturbance disease caused by platelet aggregate status.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,328 describes a method of preventing the occurrence of a secondary ischemic event by administration of Clopidogrel and one kind of medicinal acid salt and is incorporated herein as a reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,265 especially describes dextro-rotatory enantiomer of Clopidogrel and its pharmaceutically acceptable salt with platelet aggregation inhibiting activity and a process for preparation of this compound starting from the racemate and the pharmaceutical compositions containing it.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,210 and No. 6,504,030 claimed Clopiodgrel Bisulphate polymorphic form II and its preparation method.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,913 claimed the preparation method and pharmaceutics of Clopidogrel Bisulphate containing X Ray powder diffraction pattern with characteristic peaks and polymorphic form III, IV, V, VI, as well as preparation method of form II.
WO 2006/044548 provided solid premix based on containing Clopidogrel, there are at least one pharmaceutical excipient which is adsorbed on it.
WO 2004/098593 provided amorphous Clopidogrel sulphate, either or both of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate and one non-hygroscopic additive and at least one excipient.
WO 2007/008045 provided pharmaceutical containing Clopidogrel Bisulfate and pregelatinized starch.
WO 2008/059298 provided a formula for solid preparations containing Clopidogrel Bisulphate crystal form I as active ingredient, microcrystalline cellulose and aerosil as filler and adhesive, a disintegrant and a lubricant as other excipients.
The existing clopidogrel bisulphate tablet contains Clopidogrel Bisulphate, diluent, adhesive, glidant, disintegrant, and lubricant.
Plavix, manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis pharmaceutical Company Limited contains Mannitol, Microcrystalline cellulose, Hydroxy propyl cellulose, Polyethylene glycol 6000 and Hydrogenated castor oil in addition to Clopidogrel Bisulphate (From Plavix Label)
Clopidogrel being a thieno [3, 2-c] derivative exhibits rapid degradation when co-processed with certain excipients, such as alkaline metal containing salts for example magnesium stearate etc. Some patents do not use magnesium stearate to prevent Clopidogrel bisulfate from degrading.
Clopidogrel Bisulfate tablets of Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceutical Company Limite-Taijia contains glycerol palmitic acid stearate and Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, preparing through grinding equal increments in order to increase the stability and safety of solid dosage form (from CN100400035).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,914,141 claimed one medicinal tablet which contain Clopidogrel Bisulphate and lubricant selected from zinc stearate, stearic acid and sodium stearoyl fumaric acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,592 claim ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tartaric acid , fumaric acid ,and citric acid can prevent degradation of the drug.
WO 0001364 claimed polyethylene glycol instead of magnesium stearate as lubricant. WO 2007/091279 claimed glyceryl dibehenate as lubricant. United States publication US20090264460 claimed one or some of stearic acid, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, sodium stearoyl fumaric acid, glycery behenate or hydrogenated vegetable oil as lubricant. Clopidogrel bisulfate contains a carbolic acidester easily hydrolyses in the presence of Clopidogrel acid (impurity A).
WO 2005/048992 claimed the formula of Clopidogrel Mesylate, Hydrobromide and Hydrochloride, and suggests coating Clopidogrel particles, granules or agglomerates with polyvinyl acetate or Polyvinyl alcohol and one hydrophobic ingredient such as hydrogenated vegetable oil.
WO 2008/072939 and WO 2008/072836 claimed that Clopidogrel having superior storage stability comprising Clopidogrel represented by the formula (1) below and β-cyclodextrin at an equivalence ratio from 1:1.0 to 1:2.5.
The biggest difficulty for Clopidogrel tablet manufacturing is that tablets containing Clopidogrel bisulfate will bond strongly to the punches and the dies of tablet compression machine, thus causing sticking and other kind of surface irregularities, resulting in final product quality issues. The root cause is attributed to Clopidogrel bisulfate which easily adheres to metal surfaces of compression equipment. Because of the compression forces exerted by the upper and lower punches during tablet compression, Clopidogrel bisulfate rapidly forms a film on the surface of the punches and/or die. And because of natural adhesion, the sticking increases over time and so causes quality issues on tablet surface. During commercial manufacture, sticking is a serious problem. It is better to solve the sticking problem during formulation and process development.
European publication for EP1970054 states that the choice of diluent is very important, as the combination use of some diluents such as mannitol, mannitol with lactose or microcrystalline cellulose will enhance the intrinsic stickiness tendency of Clopidogrel bisulfate. Considered that the lubricant can help to reduce frictional forces during compression and prevent the tablet to adhere the surface of punch and die, too. Therefore one of Clopidogrel bisulfate such as hydrobromide and hydrochloride can be used as raw material with lactose, stearic acid, and one or more of other excipients to prepare tablet. It also suggests using the dry granulation equipment to prepare stable Clopidogrel tablets to solve the problem of clopidogrel hydrobromide and clopidogrel hydrochloride tablets adhering to the punch and die of the tablet compression machine.

Preparation method of the solid formulation of Clopidogrel bisulfate


The invention is an amorphous bag designed and shaped, that when deployed, slipped around the body up to the neck and secured to a flotation means, so when floating in the ocean, provides a user deterrent protection from shark attack. It is sized to enclose a person, made of a flexible, impermeable, multi-colored, metallic polyester, and/or any material that can be formed into a thin film of a durable thickness; with the top end open, and bottom end sealed closed. The exterior has various camouflaging color patterns to disguise the device by blending in with the surrounding ocean to reduce the risk of shark attack. The interior is a reflective silver color for signaling to rescue craft. The amorphous bag further includes two flaps made of the excess material from the amorphous bag extending from front and rear sides of top open end. The seal created using excess material flaps substantially envelope a user to prevent leaking of body fluids that can escape and attract sharks. The cover provided by excess material flaps creates a thermal chamber which slows the onset of hypothermia or sun damage, thus increasing survival duration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to protecting a person from potential shark attack and more particularly to such systems that camouflages the user, and additional aids in a ocean survival situation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,220 issued to Johnson and U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,701 issued to Fest. In the past several present inventions for deterring shark attacks have been developed. Some of these present inventions attempt to obscure the human body or somehow make its shape unattractive to sharks. At present all methods of shark deterrents have major flaws; they are either temporary, drift away, run out, fail to function, cannot be sustained, or are not small enough to be easily carried for emergency use. Scientific research and actual observation has shown that sharks are attracted to blood, motion, or silhouettes that look like their natural food prey. These factors are natural prey triggers and can prompt a shark attack. A person floating in the ocean, producing these triggers, is especially vulnerable to shark attack necessitating the development of a present invention to offer protection from such attacks. A black colored bag-shaped present invention has been found to provide a degree of protection from detection and attack, and at least two versions have been patented.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,701 to Andre Fest disclosed a tubular sheath attached to and supported by a cork ring to keep a person afloat and shield them from shark attack. However, the open bottom allowed blood and other body fluids to escape from the present invention, still attracting sharks. Additionally, the size, shape, and bulk of the present invention made it impractical to be carried by an individual for use in an emergency.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,978 to C. S. Johnson disclosed a black elongated bag with multiple inflatable compartments for flotation and a closing hood. However, the present invention could not be reduced to a small enough size to be carried by an individual, and the enclosing apron design is susceptible, in rough seas, to cause the present invention to fill with water, potentially drowning the user while inside. Additionally, as relates to both, subsequent research has shown that sharks now associate floating black bags with food and have begun predation on black bags. Therefore, due to the design flaws in these two patents and all of the various types of shark attack deterrent present inventions, there continues to be a need for a shark attack deterrent present invention that conceals and disguises a person, prevents the escape of body fluids that attract sharks, eliminates susceptibility to drowning when used, and is small enough to be carried on a person to be readily available for use when needed in an ocean survival situation.
Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.


The disc changer device, for transporting a tray to a stand-by position where trays are housed in a stacked state, to a disc exchange position where a disc on the tray is exchanged, as well as to a disc recording/reproducing position where a recording/reproducing operation is carried out on the disc on the selected tray, is provided with a plurality of tray locking units that are prepared in association with the respective trays, and engaged with a corresponding trays so that each of the corresponding trays is prevented from being transported from the stand-by position to the disc exchange position, and an engagement releasing unit for releasing engagement between the selected tray and the tray locking unit related to the selected tray as well as engagement between a tray adjacent to the selected tray on a lower side thereof and the tray locking unit related to the adjacent tray.

The present invention relates to a disc changer device that houses a plurality of optical discs (hereinafter, referred to as a "disc") serving as information recording media, such as CDs (compact discs) and DVDs (digital versatile discs), and carries out a recording and/or reproducing operation on a disc selected from the discs, and more particularly to a tray carry-out mechanism that carries a tray to be transported with a disc mounted thereon from a stand-by position in the device to a disc exchange position.
Conventionally, as this type of disc changer devices, those devices that house and transport discs in a chassis that forms an outer frame of the device by using a plurality of trays have been known. In this disc changer device, those trays are stacked in a device-thickness direction that crosses at right angles with the main face of the disc, and arranged so as to be respectively moved in a device-depth direction that is in parallel with the main face of the disc. The disc changer device is designed so that each tray can be transported in the device-depth direction among a stand-by position at which a plurality of trays are housed in the chassis, a disc recording/reproducing position at which a recording or reproducing operation of information signals is carried out on a disc placed on the selected tray and a disc exchange position at which the tray is allowed to protrude outside from the chassis so that a disc can be placed on the tray or taken out from the tray.
With respect to the disc changer device having the above-mentioned structure, for example, those devices disclosed in International Publication No. WO/2007/046514 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-18934 (Patent Document 2) have been known.
In the device of Patent Document 1, the discharging process of the respective trays from the stand-by position to the disc exchange position is carried out by carrying out all the trays simultaneously. In the device of Patent Document 2, on the other hand, the discharging process of the respective trays from the stand-by position to the disc exchange position is carried out by utilizing a main tray that is prepared separately from a sub-tray on which a disc is placed, and holds the sub-tray so as to be moved.


An adjustable physical structure for producing hydraulic formations for whitewater recreationalists includes a control structure, and an adjustable lip located downstream of the control structure. The control structure can include a crest and a ramp. The crest constricts and/or elevates (dams) the flow water to increase it's energy and focus the flow of water. Downstream of the crest, the ramp routes the flow of the water to the adjustable lip. The ramp can have varying and non-linear slopes and plan configurations. Additionally, the ramp can be static or adjustable to elevate the flow of water and vary the velocity and energy of the supercritical flow as it is passed to the adjustable lip. An adjustable invert physical structure comprises a shaped structure configured for placement on the invert of the channel. The adjustable invert physical structure can be moved or adjusted in horizontal and/or vertical directions to shape the flow of water.

Whitewater recreationalists are persons in or on a river, rapid, or flowing channel that use the currents and various hydraulic formations for recreation and enjoyment. This grouping of recreationalists is also referred to as "boaters" or "river runners". There are many different types of whitewater craft that whitewater recreationalists can use to make their way down a river or rapid. An abbreviated list includes:
Inflateable kayaksOpen-deckedRaftsKayaksand other craftCanoesClosed-deckedDory or DriftPersonal InflatedCataraftsCanoesBoatsWater Craft ("rubberduckies")Wake boards &Swimmers withSurfboards &Tubesother smallor without fins,Riverboardsboards used toand paddlesassistswimming
Whitewater recreationalists include an increasing number of persons with disabilities including paraplegics, the blind, amputees, etc. Organized sports which involve or evolved from recreational whitewater include:                Slalom: A competitive event for canoeing and kayaking where boaters negotiate gates suspended over the river for the fastest time.        Freestyle or Rodeo: A competitive event for canoeing and kayaking where boaters perform tricks on a wave, hole, or other hydraulic feature or obstruction.        Rafting: An event where rafters race down the river for the fastest time.        Down-River or Wildwater kayaking: An event where kayakers race down the river for the fastest time.        Squirt Boating: A competitive event where kayakers and canoeists perform tricks utilizing sub-surface current in low volume boats.
Open Channel Hydraulics is the formalized science that considers the formation of hydraulic formations that are encountered by whitewater recreationalists found in rivers and man-made structures. This includes those features associated with whitewater rapids and features. The basic equations governing whitewater hydraulic formations are the Navier-Stokes equations which are an application of Newton's second law. These can be reduced to simpler forms when considering the free (water) surface found in rivers and channels and the incompressibility of water.
Whitewater recreationalists refer to various hydraulic formations found in fast-moving rivers, rapids, and channels. These hydraulic formations include "Holes", "Waves", and "Hydraulics". These describe various forms of what is referred to by scientists and engineers as a hydraulic jump. (Note however that waves can be formed by other hydraulic mechanisms.) A hydraulic jump occurs when fast moving flow in a state known as supercritical changes to a slower moving subcritical state. From a scientific point of view, supercritical flow is defined as having a Froude Number greater than one, and subcritical flow is defined as having a Froude Number less than one. The Froude Number is a well defined hydraulic term which is a dimensionless ratio of inertial forces to gravitational forces. The Froude Number is defined as V_√(gd), where V=velocity of the flow, g=gravitational acceleration, and d=characteristic depth.
The hydraulic jump was studied extensively in the 1950s and 1960s, although hydraulic jump formations involving non-linear channel geometries formations can be quite complex and difficult to analyze or predict—even with computer modeling. Physical structures that can create waves and holes with recreationally desirable attributes have a vertical or steep downward slope in the vicinity where the hydraulic jump occurs. This condition was studied in the 1950s and 1960s and is know as a hydraulic jump at an abrupt drop.
The abrupt drop can cause the hydraulic jump to stabilize in deeper areas, and create other characteristics that are advantageous to whitewater recreationalists. At an abrupt drop the transition from supercritical to subcritical flow is characterized by several flow patterns depending upon the inflow and conditions found in the downstream pool (tailwater). These flow patterns include (1) the A-jump, (2) the wave jump or W-jump or the wave train, and (3) the B-jump which is characterized by a plunging jet. The characteristics of wave jump and wave train are essentially the same and hereafter the wave jump and wave train will simply be referred to as 'Wave'
Holes and waves are often the predominant features treasured by whitewater recreationalists. Holes are more retentive—having tendency to impede the passage of buoyant objects, while waves create exciting changes in elevation. Waves known as "breaking waves" can also have breaking water (whitewater) toward their crest that acts to retain buoyant whitewater craft. The form and type of these hydraulic jumps varies dramatically and even small nuances not noticeable to the untrained eye can affect the desirability to whitewater recreationalists.
Pools are areas in a river or channel that move slowly (relative to the higher velocity rapids) in the downstream direction. They are typically in a hydraulic state known as subcritical—having a Froude Number less than a value of one. However higher velocity currents or jets can carry through the entire length of a pool. Pools can also have recirculating eddy currents known as "eddies". Pools are advantageous to whitewater recreationalists for recovery.
Eddies are formed upstream and downstream of obstructions in a river. Eddies are generally recognized by whitewater recreationalists to occur in a pool adjacent to and downstream of a wave or hole. Eddies are currents that tend to rotate in the horizontal plane. This rotation can usually be seen on the surface of the water. Typically, the flow in an eddy is oriented upstream rather than downstream. An eddy can have slow or mild upstream currents or can be quite violent. The characteristics of an eddy are important to the recreational experience of whitewater recreationalists playing in an adjacent hydraulic jump.
Structures that create the various formations of the hydraulic jump including waves and holes tend to control and focus flow and/or lower the flow to increase it's velocity and power so that it is supercritical. This requires some type of crest, which usually has elevated portions to form a constriction. The flow in the vicinity of the physical crest—also known as a control section—typically enters a state known as critical depth. Note that at this location, the Froude Number of the flow has a value of one. Downstream of this crest is a ramp where the flow transitions from a critical state to supercritical state prior to entering the hydraulic jump. Note that some structures have an entirely vertical ramp; while in others; there is no clear physical distinction between the crest and the ramp. The ramp is simply where the flow transitions from the critical flow to the hydraulic jump.
A wave can also be created in situations where a hydraulic jump is not involved. Sometimes known as a wave train or standing waves, these can be created by a perturbation or series of perturbations or "bumps" in the invert of a river or channel. This type of wave, however, is difficult to reliably create or predict and usually occurs through very specific flow rates when found in natural rivers.
Typically, prior art man made physical structures for producing hydraulic formations have fixed geometries and fixed dimensions. One problem with these fixed physical structures is that they may not produce the desired hydraulic formations at normal or low water flow rates. In addition, at excessively high water flow rates, fixed physical structures may form constrictions, increased floodplains and high water surface elevations.
It would be advantageous for physical structures for producing hydraulic formations to have an adjustable geometry, which could be used to vary the size and character of the corresponding hydraulic formations over a wide range of water flow rates. It would also be advantageous for physical structures for producing hydraulic formations to be adjustable for constructing a variety of systems for whitewater recreationalists under a variety of conditions.
Various embodiments of adjustable physical structures to be further described can be used to form hydraulic formations. In addition, the adjustable physical structures can be adjusted to vary the geometry of the hydraulic formations, and can be used over a wide range of flow rates and environmental conditions. Further, the adjustable physical structures can be used to construct various systems including kayak courses, rafting courses, boating courses and theme park rides.
However, the foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith, are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

Adjustable physical structures for producing hydraulic formations for whitewater recreationalists


Methods and systems for a discharge power supply for providing a stabilized discharge power to a Hall-effect thruster are provided. A method includes sensing, by a first sensor circuit and based on a discharge power, a voltage sense signal, sensing, by a second sensor circuit and based on the discharge power, a current sense signal, multiplying, by a multiplying circuit, the voltage sense signal and the current sense signal to generate a feedback signal, generating, by a control logic circuit and based on control signals, further control signals, generating, by an impulse generation circuit and based on the further control signals and the feedback signal, control impulses, producing, by a transistor bridge and using the control impulses and a power source, an electrical impulses, and modifying, by an output circuit, the electrical impulses to generate the stabilized discharge power.

Currently, stabilized voltage sources are widely used as discharge power supplies for Hall-effect thrusters. The main disadvantage of the currently used discharge power supplies is that they operate in a wide range of output parameters, from idling mode (when the discharge current is zero) to a short-circuit mode (when the discharge voltage is nearly zero). Such a wide range of changes of output parameters makes it difficult to ensure high efficiency of the discharge power sources. In addition, the currently used discharge power sources require use of high-speed devices to prevent overloading of voltage and current.

Stabilized discharge power supply for hall-effect thrusters


A matrix and a method for preparing it are provided to support the growth of bone or cartilage tissue. A polysaccharide is reacted with an oxidizing agent to open sugar rings on the polysaccharide to form aldehyde groups. The aldehyde groups are reacted to form covalent linkages to collagen.

The invention is directed to a matrix for the therapeutic repair of bone and cartilage tissue, methods of producing such a matrix, and methods of using the matrix to grow bone or cartilage. The use of the matrix is accomplished without utilization of ex vivo cultivation methods.
There is a clinical demand for a bone grafting matrix that offers osteoconductive properties equal to autogenous bone and that can be produced in unlimited supply. Although some bone substitutes are available, many consist of materials that have poor physical handling and resorption characteristics that complicate their use and radiographic evaluation.
Similarly, there is no commercially useful or consistently effective product that supports the maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype of cartilage tissue, despite years of extensive research. Prior strategies to facilitate the repair of damaged cartilage have included the transplantation of existing host cartilage and/or the implantation of prosthetic devices. Limitations of these methods are the availability of donor tissue and the limited lifespan of prosthetic implants. More recently, the ex vivo cultivation of mature chondrocytes on polymeric scaffolds has been used in an attempt to generate cartilage graft material but this has not yet been widely accepted in part because it involves two surgical procedures: one to harvest chondrocytes and the second to implant them after expansion in vitro.
Collagens and glycosaminoglycans are two classes of biomaterials suited for use in bone regeneration. Collagen-based scaffolds have been used in bone grafting. Type I collagen has good cell adhesive properties, in particular, for bone-forming osteoblast cells. In addition, if desired, the inherent cell adhesion sites can be masked to support increased cell-to-cell interaction and adhesion by the incorporation of non cell-adhesive polymers or polysaccharides. Thus, collagen has the capacity to serve both as an active or inert scaffold material for growth.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the cartilage extracellular matrix, and it is readily sterilized, is biodegradable and can be produced in a wide range of consistencies and formats. It is generally biocompatible and its resorption characteristics can be controlled by the manipulation of monomers to polymer forms, most commonly through the esterification of the carboxylic groups of the glucuronic acid residues.
Dextran sulfate is a glycoaminoglycan-like polyionic derivative of dextran and has been shown to be useful as a biomaterial and drug for treatment of hyperlipidemia. It is produced by esterification of dextran, a hydrophilic polymer of glucose synthesized by certain strains of bacteria.
While these materials have been used separately or in combination with other materials, there has been to date no recognition of combinations and methods of making combinations of such materials to form an advantageous matrix for bone and cartilage repair which does not utilize extraneous cross-linking or ionic binding agents.

Collagen-polysaccharide matrix for bone and cartilage repair


A medical construct particularly useful as a stent, comprising an axially compressible bellows of a material and dimensions sufficient to provide negligible resistance to flexure transverse to the axis and negligible recoil under compression or expansion along the axis, and apparatus and a method for deploying the same.

Metallic stenting, especially in cardiovascular angioplasty, has become important in simplifying surgical procedures and reducing patient hospital stays. Most significantly, stenting has dramatically reduced restonosis.
Several issues, however, still remain for metallic based stents. These include thrombogenicity and persistence of restonosis in some patients, poor capabilities to deliver drugs, and damage to the lumen during expansion. Furthermore, in some instances, such as stenting of the urethra after surgical intervention for benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) to prevent post-operative urinary retention, it would be highly desirable to have a stent formed from a polymer which keeps the lumen open until swelling has subsided, then is passed in the urine stream.
One potential method to overcome these challenges is to provide an absorbable stent which is engineered with the proper strength and stiffness to resist the hydrostatic, axial and compressive loads in a tubular vessel (e.g., urethra), but not over-engineered to cause tissue damage, as in the case of metals, can be expanded to conform to the organ's vessel walls, and can deliver drugs to specific sites, both in the lumen and in the body fluids (e.g., urine, bile). In addition, the device should maintain the advantages of metallic stents such as flexibility for ease in delivery, thinness in its walls so as to not disrupt fluid flow, radio-opaqueness for post-operative management, and support for the organ's vessel wall until healing has occurred.
Several patents describe absorbable stents to overcome the disadvantages of metallic stenting. However, these either require the use of a balloon catheter to expand them, and/or are not sufficiently flexible in any direction transverse to their longitudinal axis. Examples of such stents, along with their use of pores to allow tissue ingrowth, are shown in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,059,211; 5,171,262; 5,551,954; and European Patent Application 183,372.
Yet another approach is to use a resorbable or non-resorbable coil spring stent that is collapsed within or on an insertion device for insertion into, e.g., a urethra, but which when ejected from the insertion device automatically expands. Such a stent does not need the use of a balloon catheter. However, insertion and placement within the urethra occurs while the stent is confined within or on an insertion device. Such a requirement can reduce flexibility transverse to the longitudinal axis, because of that insertion device. As a result, the placement of the stent might not easily accommodate sharp turns in the body lumen in which the stent is being placed. Examples of such stents include those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,160,341 and 5,246,445.
Therefore, what has been needed prior to this invention is a device which is flexible during delivery and deployment so as to ensure easy pass through long tortuous paths and will expand to match the diameter of the tissue lumen, and additionally, dramatically increases in radial stiffness after deployment to resist hydrostatic and compressive pressures.

Bellows medical construct and apparatus and method for using same


A bypass air valve for a gas turbine engine is provided which includes a liner, a strap, and means for selectively actuating the valve. The liner includes an inner radial surface, an outer radial surface, a plurality of first regions, and a plurality of second regions. Each first region includes a plurality of first apertures. Each second region includes a plurality of second apertures. The strap includes a plurality of openings and a plurality of third regions. Each third region includes a plurality of third apertures. The valve may be selectively actuated into an open or a closed position. In the open position, the first regions are substantially aligned with the openings and the third regions are substantially aligned with the second regions. In the closed position, the first regions are substantially aligned with the third regions and the second regions are substantially aligned with the openings.

1. Technical Field
This invention applies to gas turbine engines in general, and to bypass air valves in particular.
2. Background Information
Most augmented gas turbine engines include fan, compressor, combustor, turbine, augmentor, and nozzle sections, arranged forward to aft in the engine. Air compressed within the fan and compressor sections travels into the combustor where fuel is added and ignited. The core gas flow (i.e., the air plus the products of combustion) exits the combustor and enters the turbine section, providing power to drive the turbine. The turbine section, in turn, powers the fan and compressor sections. The core gas flow then travels through the augmentor and nozzle, producing thrust to power the aircraft. Under augmented conditions, fuel is selectively added to the core gas flow within the augmentor and combusted to produce additional thrust exiting the nozzle.
The physical operating conditions (e.g., pressure, temperature, and velocity) of the core gas traveling through the engine will vary depending upon the power setting of the engine and the external environment in which the engine is operating. For example, core gas flow traveling through an engine at ground idle will, in most places, be at a lower temperature, pressure, and velocity than the same in an engine under maximum augmentation. The variations in core gas flow operating conditions necessitate cooling mechanisms capable of handling a variety of operating conditions.
To accommodate the spectrum of operating conditions, most augmented gas turbine engines possess the ability to selectively bleed air off of a fan section or a compressor section. The bled air, also referred to as "bypass air", is most often used to cool downstream components such as the combustor, turbine, augmentor, and nozzle, particularly when the engine is operated at high power and/or augmented. Bypass air selectively bled through or passed by structures adjacent the core gas flow path transfers thermal energy away from those structures. Bypass air entering the augmentor also provides additional oxygen for combustion.
The turbine section of the engine generally includes a plurality of stator vanes ("exit guide vanes") disposed aft of the final turbine rotor stage, which extend between an inner radial cone and the outer radial turbine exhaust case. The exit guide vanes orient the flow exiting the turbine rotor stage in an optimum direction for passage through the augmentor and nozzle. The exit guide vanes disposed in the core gas flow path create a flow impediment generally evidenced by a pocket of relatively static core gas (hereinafter referred to as a quiescent pocket) immediately aft of each exit guide vane. The geometry of the quiescent pocket depends upon the geometry of the vane, the vanes orientation relative to the core gas flow, and the velocity of the core gas flow traveling past the vane. In some engines, the exit guide vanes house the augmentor fuel spray bars and an ignition source for igniting the fuel after its introduction into the core gas flow. In those instances, the exit guide vanes are given a geometry that encourages the formation of a quiescent pocket. The flame is initiated and maintained in the quiescent pocket while the core gas flow passes between the circumferentially spaced exit guide vanes. In other engines, fuel spray bars, flame holding bluff bodies, and ignitors are positioned in the core gas flow path aft of the turbine exit guide vanes. An advantage of the using the exit guide vanes as "bluff bodies" to form quiescent pockets is that the need for the downstream fuel spray bars, flame holding bluff bodies, and ignitors is eliminated. A potential disadvantage of the quiescent pockets, however, are the cooling requirements created by high static pressure and temperature within the pockets. An engine having "x" number of turbine exit guide vanes, for example, will have pressure and temperature gradients extending around the circumference of the core gas flow path with "x" number of relative high pressure and temperature zones.
What is needed is a bypass air valve for a gas turbine engine that increases the efficiency of the engine, and one that can operate in an environment having substantial pressure and thermal gradients without adverse consequence.

Bypass air valve for a gas turbine engine


An information processing device that is connected to a projecting device that projects an annotation image input from an external terminal a projection area including an object and a background, and is connected to an image capture device that captures an image of the projection area including the object and the background, includes: a detecting unit that detects movement of the object from an image captured by the image capture device; an extracting unit that extracts a changed region that is caused in the captured image by the movement of the object; and a processing unit that performs processing on at least one of the captured image and the annotation image, when the annotation image exists in the changed region.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an information processing device and a computer readable recording medium.
2. Related Art
There have been known remote indication systems, each of the remote indication systems including a server (a computer, for example) connected to a video camera and a projector, and a remote client (a computer, for example) connected to the server via a network.

Information processing device and computer readable recording medium


A grafting reagent and related method of using the reagent to form a polymeric layer on a support surface, and particularly a porous support surface, in a manner that provides and/or preserves desired properties (such as porosity) of the surface. The reagent and method can be used to provide a thin, conformable, uniform, uncrosslinked coating having desired properties onto the surface of a preformed, and particularly a porous, polymeric substrate. The method includes the steps of a) providing a porous support surface, b) providing a nonpolymeric grafting reagent comprising a photoinitator group, c) providing one or more polymerizable monomers adapted to be contacted with the surface, in the presence of the grafting reagent, and to be polymerized upon activation of the photoinitiator; and d) applying the grafting reagent and monomer(s) to the surface in a manner, and under conditions, suitable to coat the surface with the grafting reagent and to cause the polymerization of monomers to the surface upon activation of the grafting reagent.

The chemical modification of surfaces to achieve desired chemical and/or physical characteristics has been previously described. Often, the various coatings and techniques referred to above are used to coat the surfaces of materials (e.g., medical devices) intended for temporary or permanent placement in the body. In turn, the resulting coatings typically provide a desired function or feature, such as lubricity, and must do so in a manner that provides the desired combination of such other properties as hemocompatability, durability, and sterility.
A number of patents generally relate to surface modification by the use of latent reactive groups to achieve covalent coupling of agents such as biomolecules and synthetic polymers to various substrates. See, for example, Applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,722,906, 4,826,759, 4,973,493, 4,979,959, 5,002,582, 5,073,484, 5,217,492, 5,258,041, 5,263,992, 5,414,075, 5,512,329, 5,512,474, 5,563,056, 5,637,460, 5,714,360, 5,741,551, 5,744,515, 5,783,502, 5,858,653, 5,942,555, 6,007,833, 6,020,147, 6,077,698, 6,090,995, 6,121,027, 6,156,345, 6,214,901 and published PCT Application Nos. US82/06148, US87/01018, US87/02675, US88/04487, US88/04491, US89/02914, US90/05028, US90/06554, US93/01248, US93/10523, US94/12659, US96/07695, US96/08797, US96/17645, US97/05344, US98/16605, US98/20140, US99/03862, US99/05244, US99/05245, US99/08310, US99/12533, US99/21247, US00/00535, US00/01944, US00/33643, and US01/40255, (each of which is commonly owned by the assignee of the invention described herein, and the disclosure of each is incorporated herein by reference). The preferred latent reactive group is often described as a photochemically reactive functional group ("photoreactive group"). When exposed to an appropriate energy source, a latent reactive (e.g., photoreactive) group undergoes a transformation from an inactive state (i.e., ground state) to a reactive intermediate capable of forming covalent bonds with appropriate materials.
Such latent reactive groups can be used, for instance, to first derivatize a target molecule (e.g., thermochemically), in order to then photochemically attach the derivatized target molecule to a surface. Such a sequential approach is suitable in many situations, but can lack such attributes as speed, versatility, and ease of use, particularly when used with target molecules that are inherently difficult to first derivatize, or need to be used under conditions that would result in loss of desirable (e.g., biological) activity.
In another approach, the surface itself can be provided (e.g., derivatized or "primed") with latent reactive groups, which can then be activated while target molecules are in sufficient proximity to become thus attached to the surface. For instance, Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,075, describes the use of linking agents to prime a surface to provide the surface with photoactivatable groups. This patent describes a restrained, multifunctional reagent useful for priming a support surface, or for simultaneous application with a target molecule to a support.
By contrast, there appear to be relatively few examples of surface coatings that are provided by the formation of polymers in situ upon the surface, e.g., by grafting. For instance, Tazuke et al. discuss the modification of polymer surfaces by the use of a grafting technique that involves treating a base polymer (e.g., polypropylene) with a reacting solution that contains sensitizers (e.g., benzophenone) and a selected polymer to be grafted onto the base polymer. "A Novel Modification of Polymer Surfaces by Photografting," Tazuke et al., pp. 217-241, in Modification of Polymers, ACS Symposium Series 121 American Chemical Society, 1980. The use of polymeric photosensitizers for initiating polymerization has also been described. See, for instance, "Radical Polymerization," C. H. Bamford, pp. 940-957 in Kroschwitz, ed., Concise Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, 1990.
Moreover, Applicant's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,551 describes the manner in which molecules of reactive chemical unit can be bonded to a surface, via the activation of latent reactive groups. In turn, a different monomer, oligomer or polymer can be covalently bound to the reactive chemical unit, and in turn, to the support surface, for instance, by means of a polymerization reaction between the two.
In a related manner, Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,360 describes a chemical linking agent comprising a di- or higher functional photoactivatable charged compound. The linking agent has increased hydrophilic character, as compared to the reagents of the '075 patent above. Applicant's co-pending International PCT application No. PCT/US99/21247 further provides a method for the use of reagents of the type described in the '360 patent as coating agents for forming a polymeric layer on a surface by graft polymerization. In its Background section, the co-pending PCT application describes common methods of attaching a polymer to a support surface, including the attachment of a preformed polymer to a surface, and grafting a polymer to a surface.
PCT Publication No. WO 99/15917 (Baron, Novartis AG) describes a method for treating the surfaces of siloxane-containing hydrogel contact lenses. The publication describes the manner in which preformed polymers are grafted onto a surface using photogroups (such as benzophenone) as photosensitizers. In a first treatment, the surface is functionalized by dipping it in a solvent solution containing the photosensitizer. Thereafter, the functionalized surface is contacted with a solution containing macromer, which is grafted to the surface upon the application of UV light.
PCT Publication No. WO 01/17575 (STS Biopolymers, Inc.) describes a method for graft polymerization of substrate surfaces. The publication describes a method of coating a substrate, involving exposing a substrate to an initiator capable of initiating a graft polymerization reaction on the substrate, to generate reactive radical sites on the surface of the substrate; contacting the substrate with a composition comprising one or more monomers in a medium which has different hydrophilicity compared to the substrate, and grafting monomer molecules onto the substrate by forming covalent bonds between monomer molecules and the substrate at reactive radical sites on the substrate surface.
See also Anders et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,369, which describes a process for making the surface of polymeric substrates hydrophilic. The process includes coating the surface with a solution of a "macroinitiator," after which a hydrophilic vinyl monomer solution is then applied and the system activated in order to provide the free radical polymerization of the monomers to the surface.
On a separate subject, a variety of approaches have been described for use in providing coatings upon porous substrates. For instance, Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,515 describes the manner in which porous materials such as vascular grafts can be coated with adhesion molecules in order to promote capillary endothelialization once positioned in vivo. In one embodiment, the adhesion molecules themselves bear photoreactive groups, in order to permit the molecules to be contacted with the surface and immobilized upon activation of the photoreactive groups.
A relatively new type of medical device is referred to as a "distal protection device," for use in filtering blood in situ, downstream from the site at which an interventional procedure is being performed. Examples of such devices are described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,089. However, no teachings appear to exist in the art regarding either the ability or desirability of providing polymeric coatings on such devices, particularly in a manner that does not substantially alter their desired performance characteristics.
Indeed, Applicant has found that the above-described approaches and reagents, whether for attaching derivatized polymers, or for grafting polymers onto surfaces, tend to be of considerably less utility for surfaces having particularly small pores, interstitial spaces or apertures that are intended to remain open and unclogged in the course of their intended use. Such pores and the like can tend to be clogged, particularly by the use of relatively hydrophilic coating agents, which tend to "web" over the apertures, thereby jeopardizing the uniformity and/or utility of the thus-coated article.
To the best of Applicant's knowledge, the art does not teach, nor are there commercial products that involve, the preparation or use of nonpolymeric coating agents that are themselves attached to the porous surface of an article in order to initiate photopolymerization from the surface. Moreover, there remains a need for coating agents that can be used to coat relatively hydrophobic surfaces, and particularly for those surfaces that provide relatively small pores, interstitial spaces, or apertures.

Reagent and method for providing coatings on surfaces


A textile sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members and method of construction thereof is provided. The textile sleeve has an elongate textile wall constructed from interlaced yarn. An emulsion of acrylic binder and water-based silicon resin is applied to coat the interlaced yarn, with the acrylic binder providing resistance to end fray of the textile sleeve at temperatures below 150° C., and the silicone resin providing resistance to end fray between about 150-500° C.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to tubular sleeves for protecting elongate members, and more particularly to flexible textile sleeves.
2. Related Art
It is known to wrap wires and wire harnesses in protective textile sleeves to provide protection to the wires against abrasion, fluid and thermal effects. The textile sleeves are typically first woven, braided, or knit, and then subsequent to being formed, the textile material is cold cut to a desired length, whether in manufacture or in the field. Unfortunately, upon cold cutting the textile sleeve material to the desired length, the yarn or yarns used to construct the sleeve typically fray at the cut ends. Thus, the cut ends become unsightly, and further, tend to be a source of degradation, such as by unraveling.
In an effort to avoid the aforementioned unsightly, problematic cold cut phenomenon, it is known to coat the textile sleeves with a silicone rubber prior to the cutting operation, which allows the sleeve to remain flexible and to be cut with minimal end fray. However, the silicone rubber coating prevents the sleeve from being used in relatively high temperature applications, such as above 150 degrees Celsius (° C.). Thus, there remains a need for a textile sleeve that can be cold cut to length without concern of end fray, with the sleeve being useful at temperatures above 150° C.

Flexible textile sleeve with end fray resistant, protective coating and method of construction thereof