A multilayer film including an outer layer that includes a homo- or interpolymer of propylene and, directly adhered to the outer layer, a layer that includes a homogeneous ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer having a density of no more than about 0.91 g/cm3 exhibits good seal strength and good adhesion between the two layers, even in areas where the film is sealed, even after the film is oriented, even when the film is subjected to the elevated temperatures involved in cook-in procedures, and even where the film is subjected to, e.g., grease from fatty foods. The film also can include one or more, for example, bulk layers, O2-barrier layers, and/or abuse layers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to thermoplastic packaging materials and, more specifically, to flexible, multilayer films.
2. Background of the Invention
Many food products are processed in thermoplastic film packages by subjecting the packaged product to elevated temperatures produced by, for example, immersion in hot water or exposure to steam. Such thermal processing often is referred to as cook-in, and films used in such processes are known as cook-in films.
A food product that is packaged and processed in this manner can be refrigerated, shipped, and stored until the food product is to be consumed or further processed by, for example, slicing and repackaging into smaller portions for retail display. Alternatively, the processed food can be removed immediately from the cook-in package for consumption or further processing (e.g., sliced and repackaged).
A cook-in film must be capable of withstanding exposure to rather severe temperature conditions for extended periods of time while not compromising its ability to contain the food product. Cook-in processes typically involve a long cook cycle. Submersion in hot (i.e., about 55xc2x0 to 65xc2x0 C.) water for up to about 4 hours is common; submersion in 70xc2x0 to 100xc2x0 C. water or exposure to steam for up to 12 hours is not uncommon, although most cook-in procedures normally do not involve temperatures in excess of about 90xc2x0 C. During such extended periods of time at elevated temperatures, any seams in a package formed from a cook-in film preferably resist failure (i.e., pulling apart).
Following the cook-in process, the film or package preferably conforms, if not completely then at least substantially, to the shape of the contained food product. Often, this is achieved by allowing the film to heat shrink under cook-in conditions so as to form a tightly fitting package. In other words, the cook-in film desirably possesses sufficient shrink energy such that the amount of thermal energy used to cook the food product also is adequate to shrink the packaging film snugly around the contained product. Alternatively, the cook-in film package can be caused to shrink around the contained food product prior to initiating the cook-in procedure by, for example, placing the package in a heated environment prior to cooking.
Some cook-in applications impose some very stringent performance requirements on films for use therewith. For example, some food products that are processed via cook-in procedures are oxygen sensitive. Cook-in films for these products need to include one or more oxygen barrier layers. Other cook-in applications require that the film or the package made therefrom be printable and be able to retain any image printed thereon.
An increasingly important requirement of cook-in films is that they have good interply adhesion. This is complicated where a layer derived primarily from a homo- or interpolymer of propylene is to be adhered directly to a layer derived primarily from a homo- or interpolymer of ethylene. Although ethylene and propylene are homologues, polymers made from one tend not to adhere well to polymers made from the other. One attempt to counteract this tendency toward poor adhesion has involved blending a polymer including mer units derived from propylene with the homo- or interpolymer of ethylene so as to increase the compatibility of the layer formed therefrom with the layer derived primarily from a homo- or interpolymer of propylene. However, even where such a film as made exhibits good interply adhesion, that same film can exhibit mediocre or even poor interply adhesion after it is oriented.
Further, when films of this type are sealed, the sealing process can induce delamination between the seal layer and the layer adjacent thereto. During the cooking process, these same two layers must provide the film with structural integrity and support the seal formed in the seal layer. Also, the seal layer needs to be able to resist the degenerative effects of grease and/or fatty products which often are encountered during cook-in processes. Thus, the need remains for an oriented film with good interply adhesion and sealability.
Briefly, the present invention provides an oriented multilayer film that includes at least two layers. One of these layers is an outer layer that includes a polymer including mer units derived from propylene. Directly adhered to this outer layer is a layer that includes a homogeneous ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer having a density of no more than about 0.915 g/cm3. The film also can include one or more other layers such as, for example, bulk layers, O2-barrier layers, and/or abuse layers.
Articles made from the above-described film (e.g., bags), methods of making the film, and methods of using the film also are provided.
Those of ordinary skill in the art have recognized that polymers derived primarily from propylene and polymers derived primarily from ethylene tend not to adhere well to each other. Films including adjacent layers derived from these dissimilar materials can have less-than-optimal orientability, degraded optics, and/or gauge non-uniformities, perhaps due to differential stresses within the layers. Nevertheless, the work leading to the film of the present invention has shown that layers including a homogeneous ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer having a density of less than about 0.915 g/cm3 have good bond strength with layers including a propylene homo- or interpolymer, that a film including such layers can have good optics, and that a film including such layers can have a uniform gauge. In view of the fact that interply bond strength is known to decrease significantly as molecular orientation increases (as occurs when a film is oriented), the good interply adhesion exhibited by the oriented film of the present invention is even further surprising.
Also, ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymers, especially homogeneous ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymers typically have relatively low Vicat softening points and can soften at or near the temperatures involved in cook-in procedures. Thus, the fact that the film of the present invention has good seal strength and interply adhesion at elevated temperatures is surprising.
To assist in understanding the more detailed description of the invention that follows, certain definitions are provided immediately below. These definitions apply hereinthroughout unless a contrary intention is explicitly indicated:
xe2x80x9cpolymerxe2x80x9d means the polymerization product of one or more monomers and is inclusive of homopolymers as well as copolymers, terpolymers, tetrapolymers, etc., and blends and modifications of any of the foregoing;
xe2x80x9cmer unitxe2x80x9d means that portion of a polymer derived from a single reactant molecule; for example, a mer unit from ethylene has the general formula xe2x80x94CH2CH2xe2x80x94;
xe2x80x9chomopolymerxe2x80x9d means a polymer consisting essentially of a single type of repeating mer unit;
xe2x80x9ccopolymerxe2x80x9d means a polymer that includes mer units derived from two reactants (normally monomers) and is inclusive of random, block, segmented, graft, etc., copolymers;
xe2x80x9cinterpolymerxe2x80x9d means a polymer that includes mer units derived from at least two reactants (normally monomers) and is inclusive of copolymers, terpolymers, tetrapolymers, and the like;
xe2x80x9cpolyolefinxe2x80x9d means a polymer in which some mer units are derived from an olefinic monomer which can be linear, branched, cyclic, aliphatic, aromatic, substituted, or unsubstituted (e.g., olefin homopolymers, interpolymers of two or more olefins, copolymers of an olefin and a non-olefinic comonomer such as a vinyl monomer, and the like);
xe2x80x9c(meth)acrylic acidxe2x80x9d means acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid;
xe2x80x9c(meth)acrylatexe2x80x9d means acrylate and/or methacrylate;
xe2x80x9canhydride-graftedxe2x80x9d means a group containing an anhydride moiety, such as that derived from maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc., has been chemically attached to or affiliated with a given polymer;
xe2x80x9cpermeancexe2x80x9d (in the packaging industry, xe2x80x9cpermeancexe2x80x9d often is referred to as xe2x80x9ctransmission ratexe2x80x9d) means the volume of a gas (e.g., O2) that passes through a given cross section of film (or layer of a film) at a particular temperature and relative humidity when measured according to a standard test such as, for example, ASTM D 1434 or D 3985;
xe2x80x9clongitudinal directionxe2x80x9d means that direction along the length of a film, i.e., in the direction of the film as it is formed during extrusion and/or coating;
xe2x80x9ctransverse directionxe2x80x9d means that direction across the film and perpendicular to the machine direction;
xe2x80x9cfree shrinkxe2x80x9d means the percent dimensional change, as measured by ASTM D 2732 (incorporated herein by reference), in a 10 cmxc3x9710 cm specimen of film when subjected to heat;
xe2x80x9cshrink tensionxe2x80x9d means the force per average cross-sectional area developed in a film, in a specified direction and at a specified elevated temperature, as the film attempts to shrink at that temperature while being restrained (measured in accordance with ASTM D 2838, which is incorporated herein by reference);
as a verb, xe2x80x9claminatexe2x80x9d means to affix or adhere (by means of, for example, adhesive bonding, pressure bonding, corona lamination, and the like) two or more separately made film articles to one another so as to form a multilayer structure; as a noun, xe2x80x9claminatexe2x80x9d means a product produced by the affixing or adhering just described;
xe2x80x9cdirectly adhered,xe2x80x9d as applied to film layers, means adhesion of the subject film layer to the object film layer, without a tie layer, adhesive, or other layer therebetween;
xe2x80x9cbetween,xe2x80x9d as applied to film layers, means that the subject layer is disposed in the midst of two object layers, regardless of whether the subject layer is directly adhered to the object layers or whether the subject layer is separated from the object layers by one or more additional layers;
xe2x80x9cinner layerxe2x80x9d means a layer of a film having each of its principal surfaces directly adhered to one other layer of the film;
xe2x80x9couter layerxe2x80x9d means a layer of a film having less than both of its principal surfaces directly adhered to other layers of the film;
xe2x80x9cinside layerxe2x80x9d means the outer layer of a film in which a product is packaged that is closest, relative to the other layers of the film, to the packaged product;
xe2x80x9coutside layerxe2x80x9d means the outer layer of a film in which a product is packaged that is farthest, relative to the other layers of the film, from the packaged product;
xe2x80x9cbarrier layerxe2x80x9d means a film layer with a low permeance toward one or more gases (e.g., O2);
xe2x80x9cabuse layerxe2x80x9d means an outer layer and/or an inner layer that resists abrasion, puncture, and other potential causes of reduction of package integrity and/or appearance quality;
xe2x80x9ctie layerxe2x80x9d means an inner layer having the primary purpose of providing interlayer adhesion to adjacent layers that include otherwise non-adhering polymers;
xe2x80x9cbulk layerxe2x80x9d means any layer which has the purpose of increasing the abuse resistance, toughness, modulus, orientability, etc., of a multilayer film and generally comprises polymers that are inexpensive relative to other polymers in the film;
xe2x80x9cseal layerxe2x80x9d (or xe2x80x9csealing layerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cheat seal layerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csealant layerxe2x80x9d) means the outer layer(s) involved in the sealing of the film to itself, another layer of the same or another film, and/or another article which is not a film and
(a) with respect to packages with fin seals, the phrase generally refers to the inside layer, which frequently also serves as a food-contact layer in the packaging of foods (although, in a multilayer film, the composition of the other layers within about 0.075 mm of the surface also can affect sealability and seal strength), or
(b) with respect to packages with lap seals, the phrase generally refers to both the inside and outside layers of the film.
as a noun, xe2x80x9csealxe2x80x9d means a bond of a first region of a film surface to a second region of a film surface (or opposing film surfaces) created by heating (e.g., by means of a heated bar, hot wire, hot air, infrared radiation, ultrasonic sealing, etc.) the regions (or surfaces) to at least their respective softening points;
xe2x80x9ccorona treatmentxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccorona discharge treatmentxe2x80x9d means a process in which one or both primary surfaces of a thermoplastic film are subjected to the ionization product of a gas (e.g., air) in close proximity with the film surface(s) so as to cause oxidation and/or other changes to the film surface(s); and
xe2x80x9ccookxe2x80x9d means to heat a food product thereby effecting a change in one or more of the physical or chemical properties thereof (e.g., color, texture, taste, and the like).
Some films, including many which are used in cook-in processes, are oriented prior to use. Orientation involves stretching a film at an elevated temperature (the orientation temperature) followed by setting the film in the stretched configuration (e.g., by cooling). When an unrestrained, non-annealed, oriented polymeric film subsequently is heated to its orientation temperature, heat shrinkage occurs and the film returns almost completely to its original, i.e., pre-oriented, dimensions.
An oriented film has an orientation ratio, which is the multiplication product of the extent to which the film has been expanded in several directions, usually two directions perpendicular to one another. Expansion in the longitudinal direction, sometimes referred to as the machine direction, occurs in the direction the film is formed during extrusion and/or coating. Expansion in the transverse direction means expansion across the width of the film and is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
The first layer of the multilayer film of the present invention includes a polymer that includes mer units derived from propylene. Preferably, this polymer includes mer units derived from one or more other monomers, most preferably from a monomer having a general formula
H2Cxe2x95x90CR1R2
where, independently, R1 is H or a C1-C6 alkyl group and R2 is H, a C2-C6 alkyl group, or a C(O)OR3 group wherein R3 is H or a C1-C6 alkyl group. Examples of preferred comonomers include C4-C8 xcex1-olefins, ethylene, ethylenically unsaturated acids, and ethylenically unsaturated esters. Useful ethylenically unsaturated acids have the general formula CH2xe2x95x90CRCOOH where R is hydrogen or a C1-C15, preferably C1-C10, more preferably C1-C5 alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, etc., group. The specific identity of the R group is unimportant as long as it does not interfere with the ability of the ethylenically unsaturated acid to copolymerize with the propylene. A preferred ethylenically unsaturated acid is (meth)acrylic acid, with acrylic acid being particularly preferred. (Useful ethylenically unsaturated esters have the same general formula with the exception that the hydroxyl hydrogen atom is replaced by a C1-C6 alkyl group.)
Preferred interpolymers include propylene/C4-C8 xcex1-olefin copolymer (particularly where the xcex1-olefin comonomer is 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene, particularly 1-butene) and propylene/ethylene copolymer. In such copolymers, the mer content derived from propylene preferably is at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, still more preferably at least about 85%, yet still more preferably at least about 90%, even further preferably at least about 92.5%, and most preferably at least about 95%.
The propylene interpolymer in the outer layer preferably has a melting point of no more than about 155xc2x0 C., more preferably no more than about 150xc2x0 C., even more preferably no more than about 145xc2x0 C., and most preferably no more than about 140xc2x0 C. In certain preferred embodiments, the propylene interpolymer has a melting point of from about 100xc2x0 C. to about 150xc2x0 C., even more preferably of from about 110xc2x0 C. about 145xc2x0 C. The propylene interpolymer in the outer layer also preferably has a Vicat softening point of at least about 80xc2x0 C., more preferably at least about 90xc2x0 C., even more preferably at least about 100xc2x0 C., yet more preferably at least about 105xc2x0 C., still more preferably at least about 110xc2x0 C., and most preferably at least about 115xc2x0 C. The propylene interpolymer can be isotactic, syndiotactic, or atactic.
The propylene interpolymer of the outer layer preferably has a melt index of from about 0.3 to about 50 g/10 min, more preferably of from about 1 to about 20 g/10 min, still more preferably of from about 2 to about 15 g/10 min, even more preferably of from about 3 to about 12 g/10 min, and still more preferably of from about 4 to about 10 g/10 min. Melt index, as used herein, is measured at 230xc2x0 C. and according to the procedure set forth in ASTM D 1238, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The outer layer preferably includes at least about 20% (by wt.), more preferably at least about 50% (by wt.), even more preferably at least about 70% (by wt.), still more preferably at least about 80% (by wt.), and most preferably at least about 90% (by wt.) of the propylene interpolymer. However, where desired to change or enhance the properties of the outer layer, the propylene interpolymer can be blended with up to about 80% (by wt.), more preferably up to about 50% (by wt.), even more preferably up to about 30% (by wt.), still more preferably up to about 20% (by wt.), and most preferably up to about 10% (by wt.) of one or more other polymers. Useful blending polymers include, but are not limited to, polyolefins, polystyrene, polyamides, polyesters, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyether, polyurethane, polycarbonate, and the like. Preferred among these are those polymers that include mer units derived from ethylene, propylene, and 1-butene. In some instances, the outer layer preferably can include only those polymers containing mer units derived from C2-C12 xcex1-olefins, ethylenically unsaturated acids, and/or unsaturated esters.
The outer layer preferably has a thickness of from about 0.0025 to about 0.1 mm, more preferably from about 0.005 to about 0.04 mm, even more preferably from about 0.0075 to about 0.025 mm, and most preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.02 mm. Generally, the thickness of the outer layer is from about 1 to about 60%, preferably from about 5 to about 50%, more preferably from about 10 to about 40%, even more preferably from about 12.5 to about 35%, and still more preferably from about 15 to about 30% of the total thickness of the multilayer film.
The second layer includes an ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer having a density of no more than about 0.915 g/cm3, preferably no more than about 0.910 g/cm3, more preferably no more than about 0.905 g/cm3, and most preferably no more than about 0.900 g/cm3. For certain applications, the ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer preferably has a density in the range of from about 0.85 to about 0.915 g/cm3, more preferably of from about 0.871 to about 0.910 g/cm3, even more preferably from about 0.891 to about 0.908 g/cm3, and most preferably from about 0.895 to about 0.905 g/cm3.
Homogeneous ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymers differ structurally from heterogeneous ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymers in that they exhibit a relatively even sequencing of comonomers within a chain, a mirroring of sequence distribution in all chains, and a similarity of chain lengths (i.e., a narrower molecular weight distribution). Furthermore, homogeneous interpolymers typically are prepared using single-site type catalysts (e.g., metallocenes) rather than Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Examples of commercially available homogeneous interpolymers include metallocene catalyzed EXACT(trademark) linear ethylene/xcex1-olefin copolymers (Exxon Chemical Co.; Baytown, Tex.); TAFMER(trademark) linear ethylene/xcex1-olefin copolymers (Mitsui Petrochemical Corp.); and AFFINITY(trademark) and ENGAGE(trademark) long-chain, branched ethylene/xcex1-olefin copolymers (Dow Chemical Co.).
The ethylene/(xcex1-olefin interpolymer used in the second layer can include those interpolymers of ethylene and any C3-C12 xcex1-olefin, although interpolymers of ethylene and one or more C3-C8 xcex1-olefins are preferred. Preferred interpolymers are those that include mer units derived from ethylene and one or more of propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene.
The second layer preferably includes at least about 20% (by wt.), more preferably at least about 50% (by wt.), even more preferably at least about 70% (by wt.), still more preferably at least about 80% (by wt.), and most preferably at least about 90% (by wt.) of one or more ethylene/ xcex1-olefin interpolymers. However, where desired to change or enhance the properties of the outer layer, the ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer can be blended with up to about 80% (by wt.), more preferably up to about 50% (by wt.), even more preferably up to about 30% (by wt.), still more preferably up to about 20% (by wt.), and most preferably up to about 10% (by wt.) of one or more other polymers. Useful blending polymers include, but are not limited to, polyolefins, polystyrene, polyamides, polyesters, EVOH, PVDC, polyether, polyurethane, polycarbonate, and the like. Preferred among these are those polymers that include mer units derived from ethylene, propylene, and 1-butene.
The ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer of the second layer preferably has a melt index of from about 0.3 to about 50 g/10 min, more preferably of from about 0.4 to about 20 g/10 min, still more preferably of from about 0.5 to about 10 g/10 min, even more preferably of from about 0.6 to about 5 g/10 min, and still more preferably of from about 0.7 to about 3 g/10 min (measured in the same manner as described supra, but at a temperature of 190xc2x0 C.).
The second layer preferably has a thickness of from about 0.001 to about 0.1 mm, more preferably from about 0.0025 to about 0.025 mm, and most preferably from about 0.005 to about 0.018 mm. The thickness of the second layer preferably is from about 5 to about 50%, more preferably from about 10 to about 45%, even more preferably from about 12.5 to about 40%, still more preferably from about 15 to about 35%, yet more preferably from about 17 to about 25%, and most preferably from about 20 to about 25% of the total thickness of the multilayer film.
The thickness of the outer layer which includes the propylene interpolymer preferably is at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 100% of the thickness of the second layer.
The multilayer film according to the present invention also can include a layer having a low permeance to oxygen, preferably an oxygen permeance of no more than about (in ascending order of preference) 150 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours, 125 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours, 100 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours, 75 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours,50 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours, 30 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours, 20 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours, and 10 cm3/m2xc2x7atmxc2x724 hours. Such an O2-barrier layer preferably has a thickness of from about 0.001 to about 0.05 mm, more preferably from about 0.00125 to about 0.0125 mm, even more preferably from about 0.002 to about 0.0075 mm, and most preferably from about 0.0025 to about 0.005 mm. The thickness of such a barrier layer preferably is from about 1 to about 60%, more preferably from about 2.5 to about 50%, even more preferably from about 3 to about 40%, still more preferably from about 4 to about 30%, yet still more preferably from about 5 to about 25%, and most preferably from about 5 to about 15% of the total thickness of the multilayer film. Such an O2-barrier layer can include one or more of the following polymers: EVOH, PVDC, polyalkylene carbonate, polyamide, and polyester; of the foregoing, EVOH having from about 32 to about 44 mole percent mer units derived from ethylene is particularly preferred.
The multilayer film of the present invention also can include one or more other layers, preferably from one to four additional layers. Such layer(s) can serve as inner or outer layers and can be classified as bulk layers, abuse layers, etc. Such a layer can include one or more polymers that include mer units derived from at least one of a C2-C12 xcex1-olefin, styrene, amides, esters, and urethanes. Preferred among these are those homo- and interpolymers that include mer units derived from ethylene, propylene, and 1-butene, even more preferably an ethylene interpolymer such as, for example, ethylene/C3-C8 xcex1-olefin interpolymer, ethylene/ethylenically unsaturated ester interpolymer (e.g., ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymer), ethylene/ethylenically unsaturated acid interpolymer (e.g., ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer), and ethylene/vinyl acetate interpolymer. Preferred ethylene/vinyl acetate interpolymers are those that include from about 2.5 to about 27.5% (by wt.), preferably from about 5 to about 20% (by wt.), even more preferably from about 5 to about 17.5% (by wt.) mer units derived from vinyl acetate. Such a polymer preferably has a melt index of from about 0.3 to about 50, more preferably from about 0.5 to about 20, still more preferably from about 0.7 to about 10, even more preferably from about 0.9 to about 5, and most preferably from about 1 to about 3.
In one embodiment, the film of the present invention can include a layer derived, at least in part, from a polyester and/or a polyamide. Where a polyester is included, it preferably has a melting point of from about 130xc2x0 to about 260xc2x0 C., more preferably from about 150xc2x0 to about 255xc2x0 C., even more preferably from about 170xc2x0 to about 250xc2x0 C., still more preferably from about 180xc2x0 to about 245xc2x0 C., yet still more preferably from about 200xc2x0 to about 240xc2x0 C., and most preferably from about 210xc2x0 to about 235xc2x0 C. Examples of suitable polyesters include amorphous (co)polyesters, poly(ethylene/terephthalic acid), and poly(ethylene/naphthalate), although poly(ethylene/terephthalic acid) with at least about 75 mole percent, more preferably at least about 80 mole percent, even more preferably at least about 85 mole percent, and most preferably at least about 90 mole percent of its mer units derived from terephthalic acid can be preferred for certain applications.
Where such a layer includes a polyamide, the polyamide can include one or more of polyamide 6, polyamide 9, polyamide 10, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 66, polyamide 610, polyamide 612, polyamide 6l, polyamide 6T, polyamide 69, interpolymers made from any of the monomers used to make two or more of the foregoing homopolymers, and blends of any of the foregoing homo- and/or interpolymers. The polyamide preferably has a melting point of from about 130xc2x0 to about 270xc2x0 C., more preferably from about 135xc2x0 to about 260xc2x0 C., even more preferably from about 140xc2x0 to about 250xc2x0 C., still more preferably from about 160xc2x0 to about 245xc2x0 C., yet still more preferably from about 180xc2x0 to about 240xc2x0 C., and most preferably from about 190xc2x0 to about 235xc2x0 C.
Such layers preferably have a thickness of from about 0.0125 to about 1 mm, more preferably from about 0.025 to about 0.5 mm, and most preferably from about 0.05 to about 0.25 mm. The thickness preferably is from about 1 to about 70%, more preferably from about 5 to about 60%, even more preferably from about 10 to about 50%, still more preferably from about 15 to about 45%, and most preferably from about 25 to about 40% based on the total thickness of the multilayer film.
Where an O2-barrier layer (described supra) and an additional layer as just described are included in a multilayer film according to the present invention, the O2-barrier layer preferably is disposed between the second layer and the additional layer.
The multilayer film of the present invention also can include one or more tie layers. Such layers can have a relatively high degree of compatibility with polymers used in O2-barrier layers (e.g., EVOH or polyamide) as well as with polymers used in other, non-barrier layers (e.g., polyolefins). When such a tie layer is present, it preferably is disposed on one or both primary sides of the O2-barrier layer, more preferably directly adhered to one or both primary sides of the O2-barrier layer. Such a tie layer can have a thickness of from about 0.00125 to about 0.05 mm, more preferably from about 0.0015 to about 0.025 mm, even more preferably from about 0.0025 to about 0.01 mm, and most preferably from about 0.003 to about 0.008 mm. Such tie layers can include one or more polymers that contain mer units derived from at least one of C2-C12 xcex1-olefin, styrene, amide, ester, and urethane, preferably one or more of anhydride-grafted ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer, anhydride-grafted ethylene/ethylenically unsaturated ester interpolymer, and anhydride-grafted ethylene/ethylenically unsaturated acid interpolymer.
Preferably, the film according to the present invention comprises a total of from 2 to 20 layers; more preferably, from 2 to 12 layers; more preferably, from 2 to 9 layers; more preferably, from 3 to 8 layers.
Various combinations of layers can be used in the formation of the multilayer films according to the invention. Only 2- through 7-layer embodiments re provided here for illustrative purposes; however, the multilayer films of the invention also can include more layers. Given below are some examples of preferred combinations in which letters are used to represent film layers: A/B, A/B/A, A/B/C, A/B/D, A/B/E, A/B/C/D, A/B/C/E, A/B/E/Exe2x80x2, A/B/D/E, A/B/D/C, A/B/C/B/A, A/B/C/D/A, A/B/E/B/A, A/B/C/D/E, A/B/C/E/D, A/B/D/C/D, A/B/D/C/E, A/B/D/E/C, A/B/D/E/Exe2x80x2, A/B/E/C/E, A/B/E/C/D, A/B/E/D/Dxe2x80x2, A/B/E/D/E
wherein
A represents a layer that includes a polymer including mer units derived from propylene (as described supra);
B represents a layer comprising a homogeneous ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer having a density up to about 0.915 g/cm3 (as described supra);
C represents a layer including a polymer having a low permeance to oxygen (as described supra);
D and Dxe2x80x2 represent layers including one or more polymers that include mer units derived from at least one of a C2-C12 xcex1-olefin, styrene, amide, ester, and urethane; and
E and Exe2x80x2 represent layers including a polyester or polyamide.
Of course, one or more tie layers can be used in any of the above structures. Additionally, adjacent layers have different compositions.
Regardless of the structure of the multilayer film of the present invention, one or more conventional packaging film additives can be included therein. Examples of additives that can be incorporated include, but are not limited to, antiblocking agents, antifogging agents, slip agents, colorants, flavorants, antimicrobial agents, meat preservatives, and the like. (The ordinarily skilled artisan is aware of numerous examples of each of the foregoing.) Where the multilayer film is to processed at high speeds, inclusion of one or more antiblocking agents in and/or on one or both outer layers of the film structure can be preferred. Examples of useful antiblocking agents for certain applications are corn starch and ceramic microspheres.
The multilayer film of the present invention preferably exhibits a sufficient Young""s modulus so as to withstand normal handling and use conditions. It preferably has a Young""s modulus of at least about 200 MPa, more preferably at least about 230 MPa, even more preferably at least about 260 MPa, still more preferably at least about 300 MPa, yet still more preferably at least about 330 MPa, even further more preferably at least about 360 MPa, and most preferably at least about 400 MPa. (Young""s modulus is measured in accordance with ASTM D 882, the teaching of which is incorporated herein by reference.)
The multilayer film of the present invention preferably exhibits a shrink tension in at least one direction of at least about 0.33 MPa, more preferably at least about 0.67 MPa. The film preferably exhibits a shrink tension of from about 0.67 to about 3.5 MPa, more preferably from about 1 to about 3.3 MPa, even more preferably from about 1.25 to about 3.1 MPa, still more preferably from about 1.5 to about 3 MPa, yet still more preferably from about 1.6 to about 2.9 MPa, and most preferably from about 1.75 to about 2.75 MPa.
The multilayer film of the present invention preferably is heat shrinkable. More preferably, the film is biaxially oriented and heat shrinkable. At 85xc2x0 C., it preferably has a total free shrink of from about 5 to about 150%, more preferably from about 10 to about 125%,even more preferably from about 15 to about 100%, still more preferably from about 20 to about 90%, yet still more preferably from about 30 to about 85%, even further more preferably from about 35 to about 80%, yet further more preferably from about 40 to about 80%, and most preferably from about 45 to about 80%.
The multilayer film of the present invention preferably is sequentially or biaxially oriented (preferably at least about 2:1, more preferably at least about 2.5:1, and most preferably at least 3:1 in at least one direction), more preferably biaxially oriented. Orienting involves initially cooling an extruded film to a solid state (by, for example, cascading water or chilled air quenching) followed by reheating the film to within its orientation temperature range and stretching it. The stretching step can be accomplished in many ways such as by, for example, xe2x80x9cblown bubblexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctenter framingxe2x80x9d techniques, both of which are well known to those skilled in the art. After being heated and stretched, the film is quenched rapidly while being maintained in its stretched configuration so as to set or lock in the oriented molecular configuration. An oriented film can be annealed to reduce or completely eliminate free shrink in one or more directions.
The measurement of optical properties of plastic films, including the measurement of total transmission, haze, clarity, and gloss, is discussed in detail in Pike, LeRoy, xe2x80x9cOptical Properties of Packaging Materialsxe2x80x9d, Journal of Plastic Film and Sheeting, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 173-80 (July 1993), which is incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, haze is a measurement of the transmitted light scattered more than 2.5xc2x0 from the axis of the incident light. It is measured with a meter similar to a total light transmission meter, with the exception that it contains a light trap to absorb light scattered less than 2.5xc2x0 as well as regular transmitted light. It is common to measure the total transmitted light first by defeating the light trap and then setting the meter to 100. Then the light trap is allowed to absorb the light scattered less than 2.5xc2x0 (plus regular transmitted light), and haze is read as a percentage of total transmitted light. Note that the denominator here is total transmitted light (ls+lr), not incident light (li), as in the measurement of total transmitted light.
The haze of a particular film is determined by analyzing it in accordance with 1990 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, section 8, vol. 08.01, ASTM D 1003, xe2x80x9cStandard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plasticsxe2x80x9d, pp. 358-63, which is incorporated herein by reference. Haze results can be obtained using instrumentation such as, for example, an XL 211 HAZEGARD(trademark) system, (Gardner/ Neotec Instrument Division; Silver Spring, Md.), which requires a minimum sample size of about 6.5 cm2.
The film of the present invention preferably has a haze of less than about 20%, more preferably of less than about 15%, even more preferably less than about 10%, still more preferably less than about 7.5%, and most preferably less than about 5%.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cthickness uniformityxe2x80x9d refers to a percent value obtained from the formula
Ut=100xe2x88x92[(tmaxxe2x88x92tmin)/ tmax]xc3x97100]
where Ut is thickness uniformity (calculated as a percentage), tmax is the measured maximum thickness, and tmin is the measured minimum thickness. The maximum and minimum thicknesses are determined by taking a number of thickness measurements (e.g., 10) at regular distance intervals along the entirety of the transverse direction of a film sample, recording the highest and lowest thickness values as the maximum and minimum thickness values, respectively, and computing the thickness uniformity (a percent value) using the formula above. A thickness uniformity of 100% represents a film with perfect uniformity, i.e., no measurable differences in thickness. A film in which the film tmin is measured at 45% of the film tmax has a thickness uniformity of only 45%.
The multilayer film of the present invention preferably has a thickness uniformity of at least 30%, more preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 50%, still more preferably at least 60%, yet still more preferably at least 70%, even further more preferably at least 80%, and most preferably at least 85%.
The multilayer film of the present invention can have any total thickness desired, so long as the film provides the desired properties, e.g. optics, modulus, seal strength, etc., for the particular packaging operation in which the film is used. The multilayer film of the present invention preferably has a total thickness of from about 0.0075 to about 0.25 mm, more preferably from about 0.0125 to about 0.125 mm, more preferably from about 0.025 to about 0.1 mm, even more preferably from about 0.0375 to about 0.09 mm, and most preferably from about 0.045 to about 0.075 mm.
The multilayer film of the present invention can be irradiated and/or corona treated. The former technique involves subjecting a film material to radiation such as corona discharge, plasma, flame, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma ray, beta ray, and high energy electron treatment, any of which can alter the surface of the film and/or induce crosslinking between molecules of the polymers contained therein. The use of ionizing radiation for crosslinking polymers present in a film structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,296 (Bornstein et al.), the teaching of which is incorporated herein by reference. Irradiation is believed to increase interply adhesion by crosslinking the ethylene/xcex1-olefin interpolymer of the second layer (which is a very soft material having a low modulus), to improve the sealability of the film, to reduce edge tear, and to give the film structural integrity and seal strength sufficient to better survive cook-in conditions.
If desired or necessary to increase adhesion to an enclosed meat product, all or a portion of the film of the present invention can be corona and/or plasma treated. Corona/plasma treatment involves bringing a film material into the proximity of an O2- or N2-containing gas (e.g., ambient air) which has been ionized. Various forms of plasma treatment known to those of ordinary skill in the art can be used to corona treat an outer surface of a thermoplastic film material. Exemplary techniques are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,120,716 (Bonet) and 4,879,430 (Hoffman), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Regardless of whether or not the film of the present invention is corona treated, at least the inside (i.e., protein contact) layer thereof preferably has a surface energy of at least about 0.032 J/m2, more preferably at least about 0.034 J/m2, even more preferably at least about 0.036 J/m2, still more preferably at least about 0.038 J/m2, yet still more preferably at least about 0.040 J/m2, even further more preferably at least about 0.042 J/m2, and most preferably at least about 0.044 J/m2.
In another embodiment, especially where the film of the present invention is to be used with whole muscle products, the food-contact layer preferably is relatively non-polar. In such applications, providing a food-contact layer with a low surface energy can be desirable so as avoid pulling off chunks of the whole muscle product when the film is stripped from the product. In such instances, the surface energy of the layer in question preferably is less than about 0.034 J/m2, more preferably less than about 0.032 J/m2, and most preferably less than about 0.030 J/m2.
The film of the present invention preferably can survive cooking for at least two hours, without undergoing delamination or seal failure, at about at least 65xc2x0 C., more preferably at about at least 70xc2x0 C., even more preferably at about at least 75xc2x0 C., still more preferably at about at least 80xc2x0 C., and most preferably at about at least 85xc2x0 C. Preferably, the film of the present invention is capable of surviving cooking at the foregoing temperatures for at least about 3 hours, more preferably at least about 5 hours, and most preferably at least about 8 hours. The product being cooked preferably is a meat.
A bag can be made from the film of the present invention by sealing to itself the outer layer that includes a propylene interpolymer, whereby that layer becomes the inside layers of the bag. The bag can be an end-seal bag, a side-seal bag, an L-seal bag (i.e., sealed across the bottom and along one side with an open top), or a pouch (i.e., sealed on three sides with an open top). Additionally, lap seals can be employed.
The film of the present invention can be used to package a variety of products, although it optimally can be used to package proteinaceous food products, particularly meat products. Examples of meat products that can be packaged include, but are not limited to, poultry (e.g., turkey or chicken breast), bologna, braunschweiger, beef, pork, and whole muscle products such as roast beef.
The packaging just described can be done by first forming a bag from the film (as described immediately above), introducing the product into the bag, then sealing the open side of the bag. Alternatively, the film of the present invention can be wrapped substantially completely around the product and then heat sealed so as to form a package. Where such a bag or package is made from a heat shrinkable film according to the present invention, the film can shrink around the product when it is subjected to heat. Where the product being packaged is a food product, it can be cooked by subjecting the entire bag or package to an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to effectuate the degree of cooking desired.

Thermoplastic film with good interply adhesion


Method and system for wavelength thermophotovoltaic (WTPV) power generation. In one embodiment, the system comprises a refractory waveguide that collects broadband infrared light generated by a heat source; a filter that filters the collected broadband infrared light to generate narrow-band infrared light; and a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converter, thermally de-coupled from the heat source, that receives the narrow-band infrared light and converts the received narrow-band infrared light to electrical power.

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power generation is well-known power generation technique to generate electrical power by converting a flux of infrared light emitted from a heat source into electrical power. TPV is limited in use due to several significant technology issues. Theoretical predictions tend to overestimate system conversion efficiency, with the observed conversion efficiency being almost always lower, and sometimes very much lower. Additionally, the lifetime of such systems is low as evidenced by the drop in efficiency over time.
Classical TPV systems have been shown to yield as high as 10%, but usually the observed efficiency is closer to the order of 1% and sometimes much lower. This discrepancy between theoretical predictions and experimental observations stems from large losses from the complex components, as well as thermal effects that are obtained from the required high temperature.
The thermal problem for classical TPV systems is acute and manifold. For example, the converter materials can have phase instabilities that accelerate with high temperature and rapidly degrade system performance. Another example of the thermal problem is manifested in reduced collection efficiency due to enhanced thermal scattering of photo-generated carriers. A third example of the thermal problem is diffusion of the desired dopant profile for the p-n junction and interdiffusion of the alloy materials that must be maintained constant to absorb the desired wavelengths, A fourth example of the thermal problem is the thermal shock resistance and mass-transport resistance of the components which must survive repeated thermal cycling from room-temperature to temperatures as high as 2000° C. with no deformation or cracking.
Making the issues worse for traditional TPV, an interesting path toward higher efficiency is evanescent coupling of infrared photons emitted by the heat source with the converter across sub-micrometer gaps. In all likelihood these thermal limitations would be enhanced.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for thermophotovoltaic power generation that mitigates effects from damaging heat.

Method and system for waveguide thermophotovoltaic power generation

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


Novel anti-cancer agents, including, but not limited to, antibodies and immunoconjugates, that bind to EGFR are provided. Methods of using the agents, antibodies, or immunoconjugates, such as methods of inhibiting tumor growth are further provided.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR or ErbB1 or HER1) is a member of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) which includes HER2 (ErbB2), HER3 (ErbB3) and HER4 (ErbB4). These RTKs share a homologous structure that consists of a ligand-binding extracellular domain (ECD), a single span transmembrane domain and an intracellular domain that contain catalytic-kinase domain and a C-terminal tail. HER kinase signaling is initiated by the binding of extracellular ligand that induces receptor dimerization and transphosphorylation of the intracellular regions. These events generate the initial signal leading to activation of numerous downstream signaling pathways that are critical for cell proliferation and survival.
EGFR is over-expressed in many malignant tumor types of epithelial cell origin such as head and neck, colorectal, lung, ovarian, renal, pancreatic, skin and other solid tumors. EGFR-mediated signaling pathways play a significant role in the progression of tumor growth and metastases, making EGFR a good target for tumor therapy (Baselga, Oncologist, 7:2-8 (2002), Yarden and Sliwkowski, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2:127-137 (2001)). At present, four EGFR targeting agents including two small molecules tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (erlotinib (Tarceva) and gefitinib (Iressa)) and two naked monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix)) have been approved for treatment of colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, and non small cell lung cancer. These anti-EGFR agents strongly inhibit EGFR activation and downstream signaling. The TKIs compete with ATP for binding to the EGFR's intracellular kinase domain (Baselga and Arteaga, J Clin Oncol, 23:2445-2459 (20005)), whereas the two monoclonal antibodies compete with the EGFR ligands for binding to the receptor (Gill et al., J Biol Chem, 259:7755-7760 (1984), Goldstein et al., Clin Cancer Res, 1:1311-1318 (1995), Prewett et al., Clin Cancer Res, 4:2957-2966 (1998)).
Anti-EGFR therapies are not perfect. Inhibition of EGFR signaling is only effective in certain tumor type. For example, the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies is significantly reduced in colorectal cancer patients with KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and PTEN mutations (De Roock et al., Lancet Oncol, 11:753-762 (2010), Bardelli and Sienna, J Clin Oncol, 28: 1254-1261 (2010)). Additionally, the activity of small molecule EGFR inhibitors is limited to NSCLC patients with activating EGFR mutations (Linardou et al., Nat Rev Clin Oncol, 6: 352-366 (2009), Paz-Ares et al., J Cell Mol Med, 14: 51-69 (2009), Mok et al., Discov Med, 8: 227-231 (2009)). EGFR therapies also result in skin toxicity. EGFR expression in normal basal epithelial cells of the skin plays a crucial role in normal development and physiology of epidermis, and inhibition of EGFR signaling causes various skin toxicities including acneiform skin rash, skin dryness, pruritus, paronychia, hair abnormality, mucositis and increased growth of the eyelashes or facial hair (reviewed in Li and Perez-Soler, Targ Oncol 4:107-119 (2009)). Although rarely life-threatening, the skin toxicities cause significant physical and phycho-social discomfort that decrease the patient's life quality. Additionally, in around 10% of patients, the skin toxicity is so severe that it requires treatment interruption or discontinuation that impairs the clinical outcomes of EGFR inhibitors.
Accordingly, the need exists for improved anti-EGFR therapy which is harmless to normal tissues but still very effective in treating EGFR-overexpressing malignant tumors. To address this particular need, the present invention focuses on unique EGFR antibodies that do not inhibit EGFR signaling but are highly cytotoxic to EGFR-expressing tumor cells as immunoconjugates.

Non-antagonistic EGFR-binding molecules and immunoconjugates thereof


An electrophotographic device having an imaging member with a charge retentive surface, driven along an endless path through a series of processing stations that create a latent image on the charge retentive surface, develop the image with toner, and bring a sheet of paper or other transfer member into intimate contact with the charge retentive surface at a transfer station for electrostatic transfer of toner from the charge retentive surface to the sheet. For the enhancement of toner release from a surface at any of the processing stations, a resonator suitable for generating vibratory energy is arranged in line contact with the back side of the non-rigid member, to uniformly apply vibratory energy thereto. The resonator includes a vibrational energy producing device; a horn member for transmitting vibrational energy, divided into a plurality of horn elements, each horn element including a horn portion and a contacting portion in substantially non-contacting relationship with a horn portion and a contacting portion or any adjacent horn elements, each horn vibrating when driven by the vibratory energy producing piezoelectric device, in an axial mode toner releasing vibration, and a transverse mode causing non-uniform response among the horn elements; and an energy dissipating media inserted into the inter element gaps for substantially damping the transverse mode vibration, while substantially allowing the axial mode vibration.

In electrophotographic applications such as xerography, a charge retentive surface is electrostatically charged and exposed to a light pattern of an original image to be reproduced to selectively discharge the surface in accordance therewith. The resulting pattern of charged and discharged areas on that surface form an electrostatic charge pattern (an electrostatic latent image) conforming to the original image. The latent image is developed by contacting it with a finely divided electrostatically attractable powder or powder suspension referred to as "toner". Toner is held on the image areas by the electrostatic charge on the surface. Thus, a toner image is produced in conformity with a light image of the original being reproduced. The toner image may then be transferred to a substrate (e.g., paper), and the image affixed thereto to form a permanent record of the image to be reproduced. Subsequent to development, excess toner left on the charge retentive surface is cleaned from the surface. The process is well known and useful for light lens copying from an original and printing applications from electronically generated or stored originals, where a charged surface may be imagewise discharged in a variety of ways. Ion projection devices where a charge is imagewise deposited on a charge retentive substrate operate similarly. In a slightly different arrangement, toner may be transferred to an intermediate surface, prior to retransfer to a final substrate.
Transfer of toner from the charge retentive surface to the final substrate is commonly accomplished electrostatically. A developed toner image is held on the charge retentive surface with electrostatic and mechanical forces. A substrate (such as a copy sheet) is brought into intimate contact with the surface, sandwiching the toner thereinbetween. An electrostatic transfer charging device, such as a corotron, applies a charge to the back side of the sheet, to attract the toner image to the sheet.
Unfortunately, the interface between the sheet and the charge retentive surface is not always optimal. Particularly with non-flat sheets, such as sheets that have already passed through a fixing operation such as heat and/or pressure fusing, or perforated sheets, or sheets that are brought into imperfect contact with the charge retentive surface, the contact between the sheet and the charge retentive surface may be non-uniform, characterized by gaps where contact has failed. There is a tendency for toner not to transfer across these gaps. A copy quality defect referred to as transfer deletion results.
The problem of transfer deletion has been unsatisfactorily addressed by mechanical devices that force the sheet into the required intimate and complete contact with the charge retentive surface. Blade arrangements that sweep over the back side of the sheet have been proposed, but tend to collect toner if the blade is not cammed away from the charge retentive surface during the interdocument period, or frequently cleaned. Biased roll transfer devices have been proposed, where the electrostatic transfer charging device is a biased roll member that maintains contact with the sheet and charge retentive surface. Again, however, the roll must be cleaned. Both arrangements can add cost, and mechanical complexity.
That acoustic agitation or vibration of a surface can enhance toner release therefrom is known, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,546 to Maret, U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,242 to Schultz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,982 to Stange, U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,947 to Hemphill, Xerox Disclosure Journal "Floating Diaphragm Vacuum Shoe, by Hull et al., Vol. 2, No. 6, November/December 1977, U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,758 to Trimmer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,722 to Toda et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,878 to Connors et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,503 to Snelling, Japanese Published Patent Application 62-195685, U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,974 to Sato et al., and French Patent No. 2,280,115.
Resonators for applying vibrational energy to some other member are known, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,992 to Holze, Jr. which shows a horn for a resonator, coupled with a piezoelectric transducer device supplying vibrational energy, and provided with slots partially through the horn for improving non uniform response along the tip of the horn. U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,225 to Kleesattel et al. describes an arrangement wherein an ultrasonic resonator is used for a variety of purposes, including aiding in coating paper, glossing or compacting paper and as friction free guides. U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,238 to Long el al. shows an ultrasonic welding device with a stepped horn. U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,987 to Low shows ultrasonic agitation of a surface, and subsequent vacuum removal of released matter.
Coupling of vibrational energy to a surface has been considered in Defensive Publication T893,001 by Fisler. U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,762 to Ott et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,479 to Jeffee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,034 to Ensminger and U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,793 Starke.
In the ultrasonic welding horn art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,992 to Holze, Jr., where blade-type welding horns are used for applying high frequency energy to surfaces, it is known that the provision of slots through the horn perpendicular to the direction in which the welding horn extends, reduces undesirable mechanical coupling of effects across the contacting horn surface. Accordingly, in such art, the contacting portion of the horn is maintained as a continuous surface, the horn portion is segmented into a plurality of segments, and the horn platform, support and piezoelectric driver elements are maintained as continuous members. For uniformity purposes, it is desirable to segment the horn so that each segments acts individually. However, a unitary construction is also highly desirable, for fabrication and mounting purposes.
It has been noted that even with fully segmented horns, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,291 to Nowak et al., there is a fall-off in response of the resonator at the outer edges of the device and generally, some segment to segment non-uniformity. A similar fall off is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,992 to Holze, Jr., at FIG. 2, showing the response of the resonator of FIG. 1.
Of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,503 to Snelling, which describes ultrasonic transducer-driven toner transport in a development system, in which a current source provides a wave pattern to move toner from a sump to a photoreceptor. U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,955 to Hosoya et al. teaches recording apparatus with a developing roller carrying developer to a recording electrode, and a signal source for propelling the developer from the developing roller to the recording media.
The key to uniform vibration amplitudes across an ultrasonic resonator of the type used to enhance and enable electrophotographic processes is the decoupling of desired axial resonator motion (motion perpendicular to the charge retentive surface that caused toner release towards the final substrate) from undesirable transverse motion (motion in the cross process direction, parallel to the charge retentive surface). Even when resonator design parameters are optimized, transverse segmentation and discrete voltage modifications (as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,369 to Nowak et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,291 to Nowak et al. and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/887,037 entitled, "Edge Effect Compensation in High Frequency Vibratory Energy Producing Devices for Electrophotographic Imaging" by W. Nowak) will not completely eliminate this cross process direction non-uniformity. The root problem of non-uniformity is shown in FIG. 1A-1C, which shows, at FIG. 1A, a segmented transducer design (with segmented horn). At FIG. 1B, the frequency response amplitude over a 5 KHz range of individual horn segments along the length of a resonator is shown, illustrating the respective responses in the axial direction (labeled) and the transverse direction (labeled). At FIG. 1C, a plot of peak response amplitude of individual segments at 64 KHz in a resonator having 32 segments is shown, with non-uniformity resulting from bending and axial mode cross coupling at the arrow-marked areas.
Because mechanical continuum behavior in one dimension effects behavior in other dimensions, physical decoupling of what is referred to as the "Poisson effect" is required, by segmenting the transducer, as shown in FIG. 1A, and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,291 to Nowak et al. This minimizes, but alone cannot eliminate, the effect of the undesirable transverse modes along the length of the resonator, and maximizes axial transducer motion. Theoretically, a structure completely eliminating the transverse mode would provide discrete resonator segments. Such a structure is not practical, since the vibratory energy of the resonator must somehow be coupled across the entire process width of the charge retentive surface. Additionally, it is highly desirable to have a unitary assembly for manufacturing and service reasons. It is speculated by the present inventors that such discrete resonators could be coupled with a compliant bond between individual segments, or with a compliant segment holder, but horn tip alignment and structural instability would be a major concern, with horn tip motion during operation on the order of 1 micron. Thus, complete segmentation is not practical.
All the references cited herein are specifically incorporated by reference for their teachings.

Cross process vibrational mode suppression in high frequency vibratory energy producing devices for electrophotographic imaging


Provided are techniques for failover when at least one of a first network adapter and a data path through the first network adapter fails, wherein the first network adapter is connected to a filter driver, and wherein the first network adapter is connected to a second network adapter. With the filter driver, a path fail notification is received that at least one of the first network adapter and the data path through the first network adapter has failed. With the filter driver, packets directed to the first network adapter are rerouted to the second network adapter.

1. Field
The disclosure relates to a method, system, and program for failover and load balancing.
2. Description of the Related Art
An I_T nexus is a pairing of an initiator device and a target device. The devices that request input/output (I/O) operations are referred to as initiators and the devices that perform these operations are referred to as targets. For example, a host computer may be an initiator, and a storage device may be a target. The target may include one or more separate storage devices.
A Host Bus Adapter (HBA) is a hardware device that "connects" the operating system and a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus. The HBA manages the transfer of data between the host computer and the communication path. HBA teaming refers to grouping together several HBAs to form a "team," where each HBA in a team is connected and may route data to a particular target. HBA teams may be built on an Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) (IETF RFC 3347, published February 2003) portal group concept. iSCSI has been defined as a standard by IETF February 2003. A portal group concept may be described as a collection of Network Portals within an iSCSI Network Entity that collectively support the capability of coordinating a session with connections spanning these portals.
HBA teaming may be used with Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) (American National Standards Institute (ANSI) SCSI Controller Commands-2 (SCC-2) NCITS.318:1998) initiators running Windows® 2000, Windows® XP, or Windows® .NET operating systems. The connection recovery strategy of an I_T nexus may be based on multiple Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections (Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) 793, published September 1981). That is, packets from iSCSI initiators running on Windows® operating systems are transmitted and/or received through multiple connections between an initiator and a target. If multiple connections to the same target are established within one HBA, then a miniport driver may handle failover (i.e., when one connection fails, routing packets to another connection) and load balancing (i.e., balancing the load among the HBA connections). However, there is a need in the art for failover and load balancing across several HBAs, each of which may have one or more connections to the same target.


A communication network based system and method for auctioning shares of investment product is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, creates a publicly registered investment product (e.g., a mutual fund) with its own capital and as sole shareholder. After the investment product returns a pre-determined hurdle rate, or rate of return, the investment company then preferably liquidates its investment position in the investment product in order to freeze the net asset value of the shares of the mutual fund. The investment product is later opened for auction and the server system receives and stores bids from a plurality of bidders, in increments up to the net asset value. The bids preferably comprise a bid price per share and the number of shares bid. At the close of the auction, the server system preferably determines winning bidders by successively determining the highest bidder. During this process, the server system reduces the total number of available shares to be distributed by the number of shares bid by the highest bidder. Once all of the available shares have been allocated to the winning bidders, the investment product shares are redeemed at the net asset value reflecting the hurdle rate. Each of the winning bidders is receives a return equal to the difference between the net asset value and the respective winning bidders' bid price per share multiplied by the number of shares bid by each respective winning bidder.

A mutual fund is a pooled collection of stocks, bonds, other securities and/or financial instruments managed by a financial investment company. Some benefits of investing in a mutual fund include professional investment management, diversification of risks through a variety of investments and economies of scale. Investors achieve returns of the investments in the mutual fund in two ways: (1) by receiving income generated by the investments of the mutual fund; and (2) by sharing in the net appreciation of the investments of the mutual fund. With over $7 trillion in assets today, mutual funds are a well-respected vehicle that forms the basis of financial planning for many investors.
Shares in mutual funds are sold at net asset value (NAV) to investors. Net asset value or unit price per share is determined by dividing the total assets of the mutual fund, minus its expenses and liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the mutual fund. In accordance with Rule 22c-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), the net asset value of the shares of each mutual fund is determined daily, at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
A mutual fund, like many investment products, provides exposure to market and investment risk. That is, investors still bear the risk that their investments may not achieve a desired expected return and that the mutual fund may decrease in value. The net asset value of a mutual fund will, by definition, fluctuate in response to the value of its underlying investments. Accordingly, the prospective investment return at the time of investment is entirely unknown; the net asset value after purchase may go up, it may go down, or it may not change at all.
It would be desirable to have a system and method of auctioning shares of a mutual fund wherein investors may achieve investment returns on their investment by knowing in advance what the net asset value of the shares of the mutual fund will be as of a particular forward date, and buying shares at a discount to that forward net asset value through an auction process.
Communications network based systems and methods for conducting auctions are known in the art. In such systems, bidders, via a bidder computer, are able to communicate with a server computer over a communications network, such as the Internet. Residing on the server computer is a web site. A bidder, via a bidder computer, is able to access the web site, view information about the items open for auction, and submit bids on the items.
However, what is not known in the art is a communications based system and method for auctioning shares of an investment product whose net asset value can be determined at a forward date or otherwise specified. It would be further desirable to have a communications based system and method for auctioning shares of such an investment product wherein investors may eliminate most of their investment risk by purchasing a portion of the returns already generated by the investment manager and bid freely and anonymously among an investor population for those returns.

Communication network based system and method for auctioning shares on an investment product


A system for removably displaying preselected indicia, the system comprising, a tubular support, the tubular support having an interior diameter and an exterior diameter and a length whereby when positioned over an antenna, the upper edge of the support will be located immediately beneath the enlargement at the upper end of the antenna for minimizing the chance of inadvertent lifting of the support from the antenna; and a pair of clips, each clip having an exterior portion and an interior portion coupled with respect to the support, the exterior portion including a two components, one component being resiliently urged into contact with the other to form a closed loop but movably away to create an opening therebetween; and a plurality of flags individually removably coupleable to the post, each flag including a sheet having indicia thereon and a periphery, an essentially rigid support structure secured within at least a portion of the periphery adapted to maintain the sheet in a predetermined orientation, and a pair of rigid grommets coupled with respect to the support structure to create an integral support assembly therewith, the grommets being formed with apertures and located whereby any flag may be removably attached to the post.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for supporting flags on automobile antennas and, more particularly, to indicia bearing flags and tubular supports in systems configurations wherein the tubular supports are removably positionable over antennas of automobiles and indicia bearing flags are selectively coupleable to the supports.
2. Description of the Background Art
Freedom of speech today takes many forms. One very popular form is in signs and flags on personal vehicles such as automobiles, trucks and the like. Such signs most commonly take the form of bumper stickers which make an expression of the owner's viewpoint on one matter or another. Such flags commonly include indicia such as writing, colors or drawings expressing the owner's preference for one particular sports team or another.
Many types of flags and devices for supporting flags, particularly on vehicle antennas, are known and are in wide use today. Typical examples of such flags and supports are described in the patent literature. Note for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,601,255 and 4,875,431 to Marcotti and Dobosz, respectively. These patents disclose flags releasably supported on upstanding rods such as vehicle antennas. These patents, however, require resilient components. By their very nature, resilient components have limited lives since resilience is normally lost through use or over simply the lives of the resilient devices.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,519,153 to Moon and 4,650,147 to Griffin disclose flags and supports removably mountable with respect to automobiles. Such supports of the disclosed devices are of non-tubular configurations, employ excessive materials for their purposes and are not suitable for mounting on antennas because of their complex designs.
Additional devices designed for attachment to antennas and the like are disclosed by Faragosa in U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,263; by Henry in U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,360 and by Liming in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,563. Faragosa employs a complex support which is large and expensive and which has no provision for flag replacement. Henry employs a complex mechanism for attachment to an antenna with no flag or flag attachment structures used in association therewith. Liming employs a structure attachable over the upper end of an antenna requiring parts of complex shapes which add to the cost and, like Henry, there is no flag or flag attachment structures used in association therewith. As can be readily understood that there is nothing in the prior art which describes or suggests apparatus for supporting flags on automobile antennas wherein the flags are removably attachable to supports which, in turn, are readily mountable on automobile antennas in an efficient, convenient and economical manner as described herein.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for removably displaying preselected indicia, the system comprising, a tubular support, the tubular support having an interior diameter and an exterior diameter and a length whereby when positioned over an antenna, the upper edge of the support will be located immediately beneath the enlargement at the upper end of the antenna for minimizing the chance of inadvertent lifting of the support from the antenna; and a pair of clips, each clip having an exterior portion and an interior portion coupled with respect to the support, the exterior portion including a two components, one component being resiliently urged into contact with the other to form a closed loop but movably away to create an opening therebetween; and a plurality of flags individually removably coupleable to the post, each flag including a sheet having indicia thereon and a periphery, an essentially rigid support structure secured within at least a portion of the periphery adapted to maintain the sheet in a predetermined orientation, and a pair of rigid grommets coupled with respect to the support structure to create an integral support assembly therewith, the grommets being formed with apertures and located whereby any flag may be removably attached to the post.
A further object of the present invention is to mount and remove a support with respect to an automobile antenna, with or without a flag attached to the support, in a convenient manner.
A further object of the present invention is to utilize the enlarged end tip of a vehicle antenna to securely retain a tubular support in position over the antenna during movement of the vehicle.
A further object of the present invention is to selectively attach one of a plurality of indicia-bearing flags on a tubular support positionable on an antenna.
A further object of the present invention is to maintain an indicia-bearing flag in an unfurled orientation through a peripheral support structure.
A further object of the invention is to secure a support assembly, grommets and a peripheral structure, with respect to a flag to extend the utility of the flag.
These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the summary of the invention, and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Apparatus for supporting flags on automobile antennas


A tool for conducting gravimetry survey downhole in an earth formation includes a pressure vessel which houses a gravity sensor that is supported by a gimbal. The gravity sensor is aligned with vertical before taking gravity measurements by a first stepper motor and a second stepper motor. The first stepper motor incrementally rotates the gimbal about the pivot axis of the gimbal while the second stepper motor incrementally rotates the gimbal about the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel. The stepper motors are controlled by an electronic processor that responds to signals from an accelerometer assembly that measures the inclination of the pressure vessel with respect to vertical. An elevator mechanism translates the gravity sensor from one station to the next inside the pressure vessel to make gravity measurements and an optical encoder monitors the position of the gravity sensor inside the pressure vessel.

Oil exploration involves evaluating reservoirs to determine the movement or absence of oil, gas, or water as the reservoir fluids are produced. Understanding movement of gas in reservoirs is important to the prevention of premature breakthroughs and optimization of reservoir performance. Gas movement in a reservoir can be monitored by gravity methods which include determination of borehole gravity and surface gravity of the reservoir. Borehole gravity data is used to map out the vertical distribution of oil and gas at a well and surface gravity is used to understand the surface distribution of gas.
Typically, borehole gravity surveys involve reading local earth gravity at a series of stations in a borehole. The difference in gravity (.DELTA.g) and the vertical distance (.DELTA.z) between two successive stations yield sufficient information to determine the bulk rock density of the strata adjacent the borehole. The bulk rock density is what gets mapped out to determine the vertical distribution of oil and gas as the reservoir fluids are produced.
Rock density, .rho., is given by the following expression: EQU .rho.=(F-.DELTA.g/.DELTA.z)/(4.pi.G)
where .DELTA.g/.DELTA.z is the vertical gradient of gravity between two spaced apart stations, F is the free air gravity, and G is the universal gravitational constant. The free air gravity, F, is typically determined during borehole gravity surveys, so that the only unknown is the rock density, .rho..
The further apart the station measurements are made, the deeper the zone of investigation. A 5 ft interval would produce a zone of investigation of 0 to 25 ft radial from the borehole. The deeper zone of investigation makes it possible to determine the true gas-oil contact, free from borehole effects such as localized gas cone, mud, and casing.
Gravity measurements are typically monitored in the microgal (10.sup.-6 cm/s.sup.2) or nano-g range to ensure useable data that provide an indication of untapped pockets of oil or gas in the strata adjacent a borehole. This level of resolution in gravity measurements requires a highly precise gravity sensor and carefully implemented measuring techniques. For instance, the gravity sensor must be oriented so that the sensitive axis of the sensor is vertically aligned. A deviation of the sensitive axis of the sensor by an angle .alpha. from the vertical corresponds to an error of g.(1-cos.alpha.), where g is the gravitational acceleration. Thus, a deviation by an angle a equal to 45 .mu.rad (or 0.00258.degree.) from the vertical would result in an error of about 1 microgal.
In addition to keeping the sensitive axis of the gravity sensor aligned with the vertical during gravity measurements, the depth measurements of the stations should also be accurate to within 1 mm to obtain a density with accuracy of 0.01 g/cm.sup.3.


An analog telephone adapter (ATA) comprises a dial tone generator, control logic and a packet generator. The dial tone generator generates a dial tone when the ATA is in an unregistered state. The control logic processes a dial-out request when the ATA is in the unregistered state. The control logic directs the packet generator to generate an invite packet for an emergency proxy to handle the dial-out request on behalf of the ATA when the ATA is in the unregistered state.

Some telephone networks, such as those that use data packets to make calls and provide voice communications, require registration by customer premises equipment (CPE) before the CPE is allowed to make phone calls. The registration process comprises the CPE sending a register message to a network registration computer (known as a registrar) of a target network. The registration process further comprises configuring the CPE, which comprises receiving network registration data from the registrar and storing the network registration data in the CPE. The CPE, after being configured, initialized and registered, is allowed to make outgoing phone calls.
The CPE may be re-initialized or reconfigured at times, such as when its software is to be updated, after a first successful configuration and operation. Initialization and reconfiguration can be performed either manually or though a network-based download protocol.
The registrar determines whether or not to enable a CPE to make a phone call based on its network registration data stored by the CPE. If the registration data is valid, an acknowledge (ACK) message is sent to enable the CPE to make a phone call. If the registration data is invalid, the ACK message is not sent, thus prohibiting the CPE from making the phone call. If the registration data is invalid, a not-acknowledge (NACK) message may be sent.
If a configuration or reconfiguration process fails, a CPE may be temporarily prohibited from making phone calls.

Analog telephone adapter and emergency proxy


An operator defines a process, such as a process for the manufacturing of a product, using templates that may be edited graphically. Each process includes a set of steps that a user must perform in order to accomplish the process. Each step in the process may be associated with one or more pieces of machinery on the floor to achieve the execution of the process, either in advance or at execution time. Each step may also provide various forms of instruction, monitoring, and feedback to aid the user of the associated machinery in performing the process. Data may be collected regarding the user's performance, analyzed, and used to inform the operator who may in turn edit the process with the goal of improving its execution.

Modern factories are increasingly equipped with digital technologies. Manufacturing IT is often installed piecemeal, resulting in a mix of proprietary and open machine interfaces using multiple machine protocols. Interoperability between existing technologies is an expensive challenge. The diversity of digital interfaces and protocols makes data collection difficult and expensive. Data is often siloed in separate systems that require custom engineering effort and manual labor to facilitate data transfer from one system to another.
One of the outcomes of this heterogeneous mix of IT in manufacturing is the continued use of manual, analog means of manufacturing management. Paper still dominates manufacturing in a way that has been long superseded by digital technologies in many other industries. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are often tracked within the factory with hand-drawn graphs on paper or whiteboards making it difficult to track these metrics over meaningful timeframes.
The lack of real-time data about the factory floor makes factories slow to adapt to changes and address problems as they occur. Existing factory floor IT implementations are insufficient given the needs of manufacturers to remain competitive by increasing product quality, reducing product errors, remaining flexible to changes and managing a diverse workforce.
Existing Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) are inflexible in both physical (i.e. the location of buttons, meters, etc.) and virtual domains (i.e. computer displays of machine interfaces). They are typically programmed to work with specific devices, such as specific PLCs, making reconfiguration require reprogramming at the HMI. These limitations limit the ability of production engineers to deploy the same HMI to multiple locations and to update a manufacturer's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The focus of existing HMIs is the facilitation of machine automation and control by a human operator; they unfortunately do not provide interfaces for operators on the production lines that guide, assist or measure the human aspect of production work on manufacturing shop floors.
Existing control systems for managing and monitoring the work on a factory floor, i.e., "manufacturing execution systems" ("MES"), track manufacturing information in real time, receiving up-to-the-minute data from robots, machine monitors and employees. However, they are complicated to configure, centralized, and expensive.
A need exists, therefore, for systems and methods that facilitate manufacturing that overcome these disadvantages.


A DC symmetrical FET switch includes second and third switches connecting the well of the symmetrical FET switch to the drains and the source when the symmetrical FET switch is on. When the three FET's are on, the well, source and drain of the symmetric FET switch all exhibit the same input signal, wherein the drains and source to well capacitances are substantially prevented from draining off any of the input signal, thereby increasing the bandwidth and decreasing the insertion loss of the switch. The second and third switches are also FET switches. An enable signal is connected to the gates of all three FET's turning them on and off together. When the enable is false the FET switches are turned off and their wells are driven to a potential a proper potential. When the FET's are n-type the potential is low and when the FET's are p-types the potential is high. A resistor is provided in the gate drive of the first FET switch that further increases bandwidth and decreases insertion loss of the switch by moving the break frequency of the drain and source to gate capacitances.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to MOSFET devices and more particularly to MOSFET devices used as low on-impedance switches.
2. Background Information
MOSFET switches are found in many applications and have become common in high frequency switch applications. Known designs have focused on lowering insertion loss and increasing the bandwidth by minimizing the "body effect," that is inherent in MOSFET structures. Insertion loss can be described, generally, as the loss of signal power delivered to a load due to the addition of a less than perfect switch compared to that if the switch were perfect.
The body effect becomes significant when the FET switch is turned on and neither the source nor the drain are at the same potential as the well. In such instances, the well acts like another gate (sometimes referred to as a "back gate") and produces a localized increase in the threshold voltage of the device which in turn reduces the conduction from source to drain. That is, the switch on-resistance increases which, in turn, reduces its bandwidth. Bandwidth is defined herein as the −3 dB point on the continuous curve of insertion loss versus frequency.
A representative prior art design focused on reducing the body effect is shown in FIG. 1. This FIG. 1 is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,099 ('099) to Burghartz (as his FIG. 2) illustrating a basic SPST RF (single pole single throw radio frequency) switch. FET1 is the primary switch. A second FET3 shares common gate and source connections with the FET1. The EN signal high turns on both FET1 and FET3, where FET3 connects the well of FET1 to its source. As discussed above, this minimizes the body effect in the '099 switch by keeping the well and source at the same potential. However, note there is no corresponding FET across the drain to the well of FET1. The drain of FET1 may be at different potential due to any drop across FET1.
When EN is false, FET1 is off and its well is driven to ground via FET4. Its drain is driven to ground via FET2. These functions are meant to enhance the off impedance of FET1.
The different handling of the source and drain of FET1 renders FET1 as a one-way, nonsymmetrical switch that is suitable only for passing AC signals. The one-way is also evidenced by the labeling in the '099 of RF IN and RF OUT.
The '099 patent describes an n-type MOSFET structure with a p-well that is isolated from the p-type substrate using n-type well as shown in FIG. 6A of the '099 patent. This type of structure is now commonly used by many makers of such switches, and this same basic structure is used for n-type MOSFET structures in preferred embodiments of the present invention. The '099 patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
There are applications where a symmetrical MOSFET switch would be advantageous where signals traveling in either direction would encounter the same switch characteristics. It would also be advantageous to have a switch that may be DC or AC coupled with an improved bandwidth and lowered insertion loss.

Circuit and method for lowering insertion loss and increasing bandwidth in MOSFET switches


Embodiments of a method and system are disclosed to pass SMS messages from a mobile operating in a CDMA Radio Access Network to a Hybrid MSC, and to route the SMS message from the Hybrid MSC to a GSM SMS-C in the Core network, the hybrid wireless network having at least one radio access network (RAN) based on CDMA technology and a core network (CN) based on GSM technology.

The present disclosure relates generally data communications, and more particularly, to a system and method for providing Short Message Service (SMS) to a wireless mobile terminal operating in a hybrid wireless network.
A typical wireless network is composed of two sub-networks: a Radio Access Network (RAN) which handles radio related issues such as assigning radio resources to a mobile terminal (or "mobile" in short) upon request for services, and a Core Network (CN) which links the mobile user to wireline networks. Current specifications of wireless networks require that the RAN and CN have the same wireless technology in order to provide wireless services. These networks may be referred to as "homogeneous networks." For instance, a GSM mobile will only operate in a wireless network which its RAN and CN are both GSM wireless technology based. FIG. 1 illustrates a GSM wireless network 100 composed of a GSM RAN 102 and a GSM CN 104.
The GSM RAN 102 includes a GSM Mobile Station (MS) 106 that communicates to a GSM Base Station System (BSS) 108 through a GSM radio channel 110. The GSM BSS 108 includes a GSM Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 110 and GSM Base Station Controller (BSC) 112.
The GSM Core Network (CN) 104 includes a GSM Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 120 that is connected to the GSM BSC 112 as well as a GSM Gateway MSC (GMSC) 122 by using SS7 ISUP communications 124. The GSM GMSC 122 is also connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 126 by using SS7 ISUP communications 124. In this figure, a telephone 128 is shown to be connected to the PSTN 126 as an illustration of a calling/called party. In addition, a Serving General Packet Radio Service Node (GPRS) (SGSN) 130 is shown to also be connected to the GSM BSC 112. Moreover, a GSM Short Message Service Center (SMS-C) 132, a GSM Home Location Register (HLR) 134 and a GSM Authentication Center (AuC) 136 are all shown to be connected the GSM MSC 120 and the SGSN 130. Further, a GSM Service Control Point (SCP) 138 connects a GSM Billing System 140 to the GSM MSC 120 and the GSM HLR 134. The connection from the GSM Billing System 140 and the GSM MSC 120 utilizes IP. Additionally, a Packet Data Network (PDN) 142 is shown connected to the GSM CN 104 through a Gateway GPRS Node (GGSN) 144 utilizing IP communications.
A disadvantage of the homogeneous network is that, given many wireless technologies that exist today and considering new ones being defined for the future, this is a serious limitation in the wireless service provision to deal with a situation in which a mobile compatible with one wireless technology moves into a wireless network of different technology. This prevents the mobile from getting services and limits the mobile's geographical service area to networks that support a specific wireless technology. The same limitation applies to wireless networks that are CDMA wireless technology based. FIG. 2 illustrates such a CDMA based network 200.
Turning to FIG. 2, a CDMA RAN 201 includes a CDMA MS 202 connected to a CDMA BSS 204 through a CDMA BTS 206. The CDMA BTS 206 is in turn connected to a CDMA BSC 208, which connects to a Packet Control Function (PCF) 210. A CDMA CN 212 connects to the CDMA RAN 201 by the CDMA BSC 208 connecting to a CDMA200 MSC 214. The CDMA MSC 214 is connected to an IS-41 SMS-C 216, an IS-41 HLR 218, an IS-41 AuC 220 and an IS-41 SCP 222. The IS-41 SCP 222 in turn is also connected to the IS-41 HLR 218 and a Store and Forward Service 224, which in turn is connected to an IS-41 Billing System 226. In addition, a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) 228 is connected to the PCF 210 of the CDMA RAN 200 and a PDN 230. Moreover, the CDMA MSC 214 connects the CDMA CN 212 to a PSTN 232 and, for illustrative purposes, a phone 234.
A hybrid wireless network is a wireless network composed of a RAN and a CN of different technologies linked. Although hybrid wireless networks have advantages, one difficulty is to enable the mobile terminal in the RAN and certain network entities in the CN to exchange message contents without being obstructed by the differences in the technologies involved (e.g., message encoding and decoding schemes). For instance, consider the short message service (SMS) in a GSM Network. When a GSM handset sends a Mobile Originated (MO) short message to the GSM MSC, the message contains not only the destination address but also the address of the SMS-C or Short Message Service Center. In GSM networks, each GSM subscriber may have different address of the SMS-C because the address of the SMS-C is stored in the GSM subscriber's SIM card. In contrast, a CDMA network typically uses a centralized SMS service centre to deliver short message. Consequently, the CDMA handset sends only the destination address for the MO short message. Thus, in the CDMA protocol between the CDMA handset and the MSC, the service centre address is not communicated.
If a hybrid network system were created where a GSM SIM card could be inserted into the CDMA handset, a MO short message could be sent from the CDMA mobile handset to a hybrid MSC. However, the standard CDMA protocol is still used between the CDMA handset and the Hybrid MSC. Under the standard CDMA protocol the GSM service centre address would not be sent to the Hybrid MSC. What is needed, therefore, is a method and system for providing sending SMS messages from the mobile to a hybrid MSC in a hybrid system and a routing mechanism in the hybrid MSC to route the SMS message to the appropriate SMS-C in the core network.

Method and system to send SMS messages in a hybrid network


This high-strength steel sheet has a component composition containing, in mass %, 0.02 to 0.3% C, 1 to 3% Si, 1.8 to 3% Mn, 0.1% or less P, 0.01% or less S, 0.001 to 0.1% Al, and 0.002 to 0.03% N, the remainder being iron and impurities. The high-strength steel sheet has a structure containing, in terms of area ratio relative to the entire structure, each of the following phases: 50 to 85% bainitic ferrite; 3% or more retained austenite (γ); 10 to 45% martensite and the aforementioned retained austenite (γ); and 5 to 40% ferrite. The ratio between the Mn concentration (MnγR) in the retained austenite (γ) and the average Mn concentration (Mnav) in the entire structure is 1.2 or more (MnγR/ Mnav) based on the Mn concentration distribution obtained by means of EPMA line analysis. As a consequence, the high-strength steel sheet exhibits strength of 980 MPa or more and exerts excellent deep drawability.

With respect to thin steel sheets used for a frame component of an automobile, high strengthening is required in order to achieve safety against collision and improvement of fuel economy. Therefore, it is required to secure press formability while increasing the strength of the steel sheet to 980 MPa class or more. In order to achieve both of high strengthening and securing of formability in high-strength steel sheets of 980 MPa class or more, use of steel utilizing the TRIP effect is known to be effective (refer to Patent Literature 1 for example).
In the Patent Literature 1, a high-strength steel sheet is disclosed which has a main phase of bainite or bainitic ferrite and contains retained austenite (γR) by 3% or more in terms of area ratio. However, with respect to this high-strength steel sheet, the total elongation does not reach 20% at 980 MPa or more of the tensile strength at room temperature, and further improvement of the mechanical property (hereinafter also referred to simply as "property") is required.
On the other hand, because there is a limit in formability even with a TRIP steel sheet in cold forming, a technology is proposed in which the TRIP effect is further effectively exerted and the elongation is increased by working at 100-400° C. in order to further improve the elongation (refer to Non-patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2).
As shown in Table 2 of the Patent Literature 2, by making γR with 1 mass % or more carbon content present in the structure mainly composed of bainitic ferrite, the elongation (total elongation) in the vicinity of 200° C. can be improved to 23% in 1,200 MPa class. However, when press forming is taken into consideration, if local deformation region is utilized particularly in forming in which bulging and deep drawing are main, the strain is localized to cause breakage, and therefore uniform deformation region is often utilized. Accordingly, improvement of only the total elongation including the local elongation is insufficient, and improvement of the uniform elongation is required.
With respect to the uniform elongation, in Patent Literature 3, it is disclosed that the uniform elongation improves by adding Y and REM, however the technology can be applied only for a steel sheet with the tensile strength (TS) of up to 875 MPa as shown in its Table 3. Also, in Patent Literature 4, it is disclosed that the balance of the strength and the uniform elongation improves by a mixed structure of bainitic ferrite-polygonal ferrite-retained austenite, however the technology can also be applied only to a steel sheet with up to 859 MPa TS as shown in its Table 2.
Therefore, development of a technology that could achieve excellent uniform elongation even in a steel sheet of 980 MPa class or above was required.

High-strength steel sheet with excellent deep drawability at room temperature and warm temperature, and method for warm working same