The present invention relates to a process for detecting live microbiological contaminants in a food product sample.
Food products are particularly susceptible to contamination with microbiological products, in particular with bacteria, on account of the powerful effect which a contamination has on the health of the persons ingesting the food. In this sphere, live, and therefore active, microorganisms are particularly formidable since they are then able to propagate in the body and transmit severe diseases. There is therefore a definite need to develop a process which enables these live microorganisms to be detected in food products in a manner which is both precise and satisfactory.
A large number of methods exist for detecting bacteria, in particular, in samples. One which may be mentioned, by way of example, is that of culturing the sample in order to increase the number of bacterial cells present until colonies, which can be counted, are observed. Where appropriate, the culture can be followed by an additional step which enables the particular type of bacteria contained in the sample to be identified. These bacteriological methods require a great deal of time and skill on the part of the individuals who carry them out. Thus, it is generally necessary, for example, to incubate for from 24 to 48 hours before being certain of obtaining a positive or negative result.
Other methods have also been envisaged for eliminating the drawbacks of the conventional bacteriological method. Thus, microscopy is frequently used for detecting bacteria in clinical samples. Usually, it is necessary to stain the sample in order to increase the detection limits, a procedure which on the one hand represents a laborious method and, on the other hand, is unsuitable for food samples (1). Some immunological methods have also been successfully developed for detecting certain species which possess surface antigens which can be recognized by specific antibodies. However, such an approach cannot be used for qualitatively determining bacteria in a sample which may contain a large variety of bacterial species which do not possess a common surface antigen.
The European Patent Application EP-A-0 133671 describes a method for determining the presence of bacteria in samples, in particular in media, such as body fluids, which are suitable for diagnostic purposes, which employs nucleic acid hybridization techniques. According to this method, the sample to be tested is first of all subjected to denaturing conditions so as to render the nucleic acids of the bacteria, which are present in the sample, single-stranded. The resulting single-stranded nucleic acids are brought into contact with a polynucleotide probe which possesses a sequence which is homologous with at least one sequence which is common to all the bacterial species which are present in the sample. The probe and the denatured nucleic acids are brought into contact so as to effect a hybridization between the probe and the respective sequences of the bacteria. More particularly, the probe employed comprises at least a part of one of the strands of a gene which codes for the synthesis of a nucleic acid or a protein which is involved in the mechanism by which the proteins are synthesized. Those genes of this type which are cited are, in particular, genes which encode transfer RNAs, ribosomal RNAs, or initiation, elongation or translation termination factors. One of the features of this method is that it is not based on expression but rather on the presence of hybridizable nucleic acids, for example the RNA or the genomic DNA or the extra-chromosomal nucleic acids of the bacteria which are present. The result, which the Applicant views as being an advantage, of this is that the samples do not have that it is not based on expression but rather on the presence of hybridizable nucleic acids, for example the RNA or the genomic DNA or the extra-chromosomal nucleic acids of the bacteria which are present. The result, which the Applicant views as being an advantage, of this is that the samples do not have to be treated so as to guarantee the viability of the bacteria which are present.
Document WO 92/03455 describes compositions and processes for treating and diagnosing infections with Candida, in particular nucleotides which are able to hybridize specifically with a part of the Candida MRNA, in particular the mRNA encoding elongation factors 1 and 2 (TEF1 and TEF2). This document is only directed towards therapeutic or diagnostic applications, either for detecting the presence of Candida in a patient or for inhibiting the activity of this bacterium by blocking the expression of essential proteins.
The document Berg et al., xe2x80x9cMOL CELL. PROBES, Vol. 10, February 1996, pp 7-14xe2x80x9d describes a system for specifically detecting the DNA of microplasmas using the PCR technique. Although it is indicated, on page 12 of this document, that the target sequence for the PCR amplification is the tuf gene, which encodes the elongation factor Tu, this document is only directed towards detecting DNA, and not mRNA on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the method is only a method for detecting bacteria in order to establish a diagnosis in a patient. This document does not envisage any application in the sphere of the invention, in which the specific problem is that of detecting living bacteria.
Thus, there is no known method which makes it possible to detect live microbiological contaminants in a food product and which at the same time discriminates between the live microorganisms and the dead microorganisms and which, moreover, does not pose any problems relating to public health.
The inventors have now discovered that it was possible to detect live microbiological contaminants in a food product sample by detecting, in this sample, the resence of messenger RNA (mRNA) which codes for the synthesis of a protein which is involved in the mechanism by which the proteins of the said contaminants are synthesized.
Different families of microorganisms can be detected in accordance with the invention. Procaryotes, in particular bacteria, unicellular eucaryotes, in particular yeasts, and multicellular eucaryotes, in particular fungi, may be mentioned in a nonlimiting manner. Different species can be identified within these families. Thus, for example, Escherichia, Salmonella and Mycobacterium in the case of bacteria; Saccharomyces and Candida in the case of yeasts; Mucor, Neurospora and Trichoderma in the case of fungi.
The synthesis of proteins by microorganisms comprises steps of transcription and translation. Within the context of translation, nucleic acids and proteins exist which are involved in each of the three basic steps of protein synthesis, i.e. initiation, elongation and termination. invention in order to detect live microbiological contaminants belonging to different species.
Thus, according to one preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process for non-specifically detecting live contaminants belonging to different species of a family of microorganisms, according to which the MRNA detected is an mRNA which codes for the synthesis of a protein whose primary structure is at least partially conserved between different species.
On the contrary, if a greater specificity of detection between different microorganism species is required, it is possible, according to the invention, to detect different mRNAs which respectively code for the synthesis of a protein whose primary structure is not conserved between different species.
Of all the factors which are involved in protein synthesis, one example which is particularly preferred consists of the elongation factors. Those of these factors which may be mentioned are the EF-1, EF-2, EF-G and EF-TU factors, in the case of bacteria (2), or else the EF-1xcex1 factor (3) in the case of yeasts and fungi. These factors play a fundamental role in protein synthesis in that they determine the length of time during which an aminoacyl tRNA remains associated with the ribosome and with the forming polypeptide chain, which function is referred to by the expression xe2x80x9ckinetic proofreadingxe2x80x9d (4).
There are various reasons why it is particularly advantageous to look for the presence of messenger RNA which encodes an elongation factor. First of all, this gene represents a very suitable marker of the viability of the cells since inactivation of this gene is a lethal event both in procaryotes and eucaryotes (5, 6). Furthermore, the gene which encodes an elongation factor encodes a protein which belongs to those proteins which are most widely expressed in procaryotes and eucaryotes (7, 8), a fact which makes it possible to substantially decrease the cell detection level. Finally, as pointed out above, it is possible to modulate the specificity of the detection insofar as this function is conserved in procaryotes and eucaryotes and the primary structure of this type of gene is very similar (9). It is thus possible to implement means of detection which make it possible to distinguish between procaryotes and eucaryotes or, on the contrary, to non-specifically detect bacteria, yeasts and/or fungi at one and the same time.
Furthermore, mRNA encoding elongation factors has a very short half-life (10, 11). Its presence therefore reveals the presence of cells which were still alive approximately ten minutes before the mRNA was detected.
An mRNA encoding an elongation factor is therefore detected in accordance with a preferred embodiment. In this case, a live microorganism cell within the meaning of the invention is a cell which is able to produce the mRNA corresponding to an elongation factor.
The RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction combined with reverse transcription) is a method of choice for detecting the presence of messenger RNA according to the invention. This technique consists in carrying out a PCR on an RNA which has previously been transcribed into complementary DNA in the presence of reverse transcriptase and a primer. After the RT stage, the proper PCR stage is carried out under standard conditions in the presence of the DNA to be amplified, two oligonucleotide primers which flank the region to be amplified and four deoxynucleotide triphosphates (DATP, dCTP, dGTP and dTTP), in large molar excess, and the enzyme Taq polymerase.
Naturally, the choice of the primers is a basic requirement, since it makes it possible to target the mRNA which it is desired to detect. The oligonucleotide primers are prepared such that they are specific for the coding region of a gene which encodes an elongation factor. The known elongation factors which are preferably selected are the EF-TU factor in the case of bacteria and the EF-1xcex1 factor in the case of yeasts and fungi. It is for this reason that the primers B1/B2 (5xe2x80x2 CGCTGGAAGGCGACGMRRAG 3xe2x80x2 (SEQ ID NO:1)/5xe2x80x2 CGGAAGTAGAACTGCGGACGGTAG 3xe2x80x2 (SEQ ID NO:2) were, for example, prepared, which primers are specific for a fragment of the bacterial EF-TU elongation factor which is found, in particular, in Salmonella typhimurium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, Escherichia coli, Brevibacterium linens and Streptomyces ramocissimus.
In the case of yeasts, the primers L1/L2 (5xe2x80x2 TCCATGGTACAAGGGTTGGGAA 3xe2x80x2 (SEQ ID NO:3)/5xe2x80x2 GCGAATCTACCTAATGGTGGGT 3xe2x80x2 (SEQ ID NO:4) were prepared, which primers are specific for a fragment of the yeast EF-1xcex1 elongation factor, which is found both in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans.
Finally, an example of a nucleotide primer which can be used for detecting messenger RNA which is specific for fungi consists of the pair M1/M2 (5xe2x80x2 GCTGGTATCTCCAAGGATGG 3xe2x80x2 (SEQ ID NO:5)/5xe2x80x2-CGACGGACTTGACTTCRGTGG 3xe2x80x2 (SEQ ID NO:6). These primers are more particularly specific for a fragment of the fungal EF-1xcex1 elongation factor which is found in Mucor racemosus, Neurospora crassa, Trichoderma reesei, Absidia glauca, Aureobasidium pullulans, Histoplasma capsulatum and Puccinia graminis.
The primers which can be used in accordance with the invention were prepared after comparing the elongation factor-encoding regions of different microorganism species (Lasergene software, Dnastar, Madison, Wis., USA).
In a general manner, the process according to the invention can be characterized by the following steps taken together:
a) a sample of the food product to be tested is withdrawn;
b) the cells are lysed;
c) reverse transcription is carried out;
d) amplification cycles are carried out using oligonucleotide primers which are specific for the coding region of a gene which encodes an elongation factor;
e) the amplification products are separated;
f) the amplification products are visualized.
g) the products as visualized in step f) are compared with the amplification products which are obtained from pure mRNA.
Since the invention is essentially directed towards detecting live microbiological contaminants, it is particularly advantageous to as far as possible remove any additional contamination of the medium with the DNA which is present in the sample. For this reason, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an additional step (bxe2x80x2), which is intended to remove the DNA which is present in the sample, is added after step b). For this, DNase I, which does not contain any RNase, can simply be added to the reaction medium. If it is desired to check for the absence of false positives which are linked to the presence of DNA, one possibility consists in carrying out a PCR reaction on the same samples as those used for the RT-PCR.


1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a sealing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a flat display device using the sealing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display devices are increasingly being replaced by slim, portable flat panel display devices. Electroluminescent display devices, among the flat panel display devices, are self luminescent display devices, and have advantages of a wide angle of view, a high contrast level, and a fast response speed. Therefore, the electroluminescent display devices are being pursued as a display device of the next generation.
Organic light-emitting display devices having a light-emitting layer composed of an organic material have characteristics of brightness, a lower driving voltage, and a higher response speed and are capable of displaying more colors than inorganic light-emitting display devices. Generally, an organic light-emitting display device has a structure in which at least one organic layer including an emission layer is interposed between a pair of electrodes (that is, a first electrode and a second electrode). The first electrode is formed on a substrate, and functions as an anode that injects holes. An organic layer is formed on the first electrode. The second electrode functions as a cathode that injects electrons, and is formed on the organic layer so as to face the first electrode.
When moisture or oxygen flows into elements of such an organic light-emitting display device from the surroundings, there are problems due to oxidation of an electrode material. Examples of such problems are exfoliation of an electrode surface or the like. These problems shorten the life of the elements, lower a light-emitting efficiency, and deteriorate emitted light colors. Therefore, in the manufacture of the organic light-emitting display device, a sealing process is usually performed so that the elements can be isolated from outside exposure and moisture infiltration into the elements. In the sealing process, usually a polymer organic material (such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) that is a thermoplastic polyester, is laminated on the second electrode or a cover or a cap is formed on the second electrode. Nitrogen gas is filled in the cover or the cap, and the rim of the cover or the cap is capsule-sealed by a sealant such as epoxy. The cover or the cap may be made of a metallic material or a glass material that is moisture absorbent.
However, such methods can allow for some element damaging materials such as moisture, oxygen, or the like to infiltrate into the device from the outside. In addition, the methods are not well suited when applied to top-emitted organic light-emitting display device having elements that are specifically weak to moisture, and a process to realize the methods is complicated. In order to solve the above mentioned problems, a capsule sealing method is used to enhance adhesion between an element substrate and a cap using a frit as a sealant.
The method of capsule-sealing an organic light-emitting display device includes coating a frit on a glass substrate which perfectly seals the element substrate and the cap together. Thus, the organic light-emitting display device can be protected from being infiltrated with the element damaging material more effectively than an organic light-emitting display device using epoxy as a sealant.
In the method of capsule-sealing the organic light-emitting display device with the frit, after the frit is coated on each sealing portion of the organic light-emitting display device, a laser irradiating apparatus is moved to the sealing portions thereof and irradiates a laser beam to the sealing portions to harden the frit for sealing.


The present disclosure relates to a display unit displaying an image, and an image processing unit for use in such a display unit, and a display method.
Recently, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display unit has been actively replaced with a liquid crystal display unit or an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display unit. The liquid crystal display unit and the organic electro-luminescence display unit are each being a mainstream display unit due to low power consumption and a flat configuration thereof.
Display units are in general desired to have high image quality. Image quality is determined by various factors including contrast. Increase of peak luminance may be a technique for improving contrast. Specifically, reduction of a black level is limited by reflection of outside light, etc. Hence, in the above technique, peak luminance is increased (extended) to improve contrast. For example, Japanese Unexamined. Patent Application Publication No. 2008-158401 (JP-A-2008-158401) discloses a display unit, in which an increasing level (extending level) of peak luminance and gamma characteristics are each varied depending on an average of image signals to achieve improvement in image quality and reduction in power consumption.
In some display units, each pixel is configured of four sub-pixels. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-33009 discloses a display unit, in which each pixel is configured of sub-pixels of red, green, blue, and white to improve luminance or reduce power consumption, for example.


This invention relates generally to plural-substituted pyridine derivatives and, particularly, to processes for preparing and isolating 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone and for using same.
Although a large number of functionally substituted pyridine compounds are known and capable of synthesis, certain patterns of disubstitution on the pyridine ring are difficult to obtain by any convenient and commercially viable means. Pyridines having functional substituents in the 2- and 5- positions of the ring are often valuable derivatives, but fall within this category. For example, hydroxyl, cyano, carboxy, chloro and other groups are difficult to introduce into these positions on the pyridine ring.
It has long been known that certain non-nitrogen-containing heterocycles can assist in this regard because of their ability to be converted into pyridine bases. Pyrones, pyrilium salts and furans are examples of such transformations. As early as 1884 in Ber., 17, 2384 (1884), Von Pechmann et al. described the conversion of 5-carboxy-2-pyrone to 5-carboxy-2-hydroxypyridine upon treatment with ammonia in the presence of a caustic material such as sodium hydroxide. ##STR2## Although this reaction is potentially useful in some commercial applications, the number of reported uses of the method is small.
This 5-carboxy-2-hydroxypyridine, also known as 6-hydroxynicotinic acid and 5-carboxy-2-pyridone, is an example of a disubstituted pyridine of some commercial value. Besides this Von Pechmann et al. method, it has been prepared directly from a pyridine in two known instances. First, synthesis has been achieved by direct carboxylation of 2-hydroxypyridine, as depicted below. ##STR3## As can be seen, this procedure is rather lengthy and has proven not a viable commercial method. Second, 2-hydroxy-5-carboxypyridine has been prepared directly from 5-carboxypyridine, also known as niacin, through known techniques.
Trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridines have also proven to be valuable derivatives of pyridine bases, although difficult to obtain. Synthesis of these compounds has been accomplished in only a limited number of cases, most of which have involved the conversion of a pyridine carboxylic acid to a trifluoromethyl pyridine utilizing sulfur tetrafluoride.
Accordingly, it is generally known that alkyl and aromatic carboxylic acids react with sulfur tetrafluoride in the presence of hydrogen fluoride to give trifluoromethyl derivatives. ##STR4## This reaction has been applied to amino acids. Kobayashi et al.: Chem. Pharm. Bull. 15, 1896 (1967), M. S. Raasch: J. Org. Chem., 27, 1406 (1962). It has also been applied in a few reports to simple pyridine carboxylic acids such as niacin and 3,5-dicarboxypyridine. Kobayashi et al. and Raasch, id.
It is likewise generally known that some esters and anhydrides of these carboxylic acids react with sulfur tetrafluoride to give the corresponding fluorinated ethers. In the case of compounds such as ethyl acetate and dichloromaleic anhydride, the double-bonded oxygen groups are simply replaced during the fluorination reaction. W. R. Hasek, W. C. Smith, and V. A. Engelhardt, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 82, 543 (1960). ##STR5##
The presence of a hydroxy group leads to undesirable reactions involving this additional oxygen function in the trifluoromethylation reaction. As used herein, "trifluoromethylation" refers to the conversion of a precursor material to a material containing a trifluoromethyl radical by the addition or substitution of fluorine to the precursor material. As background for this statement, 2- and 4-hydroxypyridines have been shown to physically exist as a mixture of tautomeric forms, appearing both as the hydroxy and the amide derivatives. R. Elderfield, Heterocyclic Compounds, 1, 435-440 (1950). ##STR6## For this reason, these hydroxypyridines undergo reactions typical of both phenols and amides as also reported in the Elderfield reference. ##STR7## Similar behavior has been reported in substituted hydroxypyridines such as the 5-carboxy-2-hydroxypyridines discussed above. Klingsberg, Pyridine and Its Derivatives, Part Three, p. 646 (1962).
It is known that hydroxy groups give rise to fluoro groups by standard substitution upon treatment with sulfur tetrafluoride. Boswell et al., Org. Reactions, 21 p. 12 (1973). It is also known that amides react with sulfur tetrafluoride to give a variety of products. Hasel, Smith and Engelhart, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 82, 543, (1966) For example, if the amide contains at least one nitrogen-hydrogen bond, cleavage at the nitrogen-carbon bond is reported to occur. ##STR8## This cleavage is believed to be caused by trace amounts of hydrogen fluoride produced during the reaction. Hasek, Smith & Englehart, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 82, 543 (1966).
Therefore, disubstituted 2- and 5-pyridine derivatives are often difficult to obtain. This statement is particularly true, as taught by the art, with the 2-hydroxy and 5-trifluoromethyl substituents. Nevertheless, 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone is now proving to be a desirable and valuable commercial compound based on both proven and anticipated uses as shown in the art. It appears from the prior art that 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone would be useful as a catalyst in nucleophilic aromatic substitution, formation of amides, and hydrolysis of esters. It also appears from the prior art that 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone would be useful as an antioxidant. Still further, this compound is proving to be a valuable intermediate in the synthesis of herbicides, pharmaceuticals, germicides and the like. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,396 to Shen et al. This is due at least in part to the ready substitution for the 2-hydroxy group on the ring and the lower toxicity caused by the 5-trifluoromethyl substituent.
The only reported synthesis of 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone in the art attempts to avoid the prior art problems discussed above. This synthesis, reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,396 issued to Shen et al. on July 26, 1977, teaches a three-step method in Example 111 (beginning at column 23, line 62) for preparing 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone (the tautomeric form of 5-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxypyridine) from 6-hydroxynicotinic acid. This method includes steps for specifically circumventing the expected interference of the tautomeric hydroxy and amide forms of the initial compound. This is accomplished by converting the 2-substituent to a chloro group in an attempt to protect the 2- position during the trifluoromethylation reaction.
In particular, Shen et al. first teach converting this 6-hydroxynicotinic acid to a less-reactive 6-chloronicotinic acid by a reaction involving liquid phosphorous oxychloride added jointly with solid phosphorous pentachloride and then recaptured in water. The 6-chloro derivative is then subjected to trifluoromethylation using sulfur tetrafluoride in the presence of hydrogen fluoride, and the 2-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyridine is reconverted back to the hydroxy or amide derivative through a complex treatment under nitrogen with silver acetate in the presence of acetic acid.
This three-step Shen et al. procedure is lengthy and complex, and thus of minimal commercial valuable. It further emphasizes the need for the development of a viable, more efficient process for preparing the valuable 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone. ##STR9##


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium, a substrate for a recording medium, production processes thereof, and an image forming process using the recording medium. In particular, the present invention relates to a recording medium, which can provide a clear or bright and high-quality recorded image in a surface coated part region thereof and can prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon called cockling in which a printed surface is waved by an aqueous ink, and a production process of the recording medium.
2. Related Background Art
An ink-jet recording system often used in recent years is a system in which fine droplets of an ink are flown by any one of various working principles to apply them to a recording medium such as paper, thereby making a record of images, characters and/or the like. Recording apparatus, to which this recording system is applied, are quickly spread as recording apparatus for various images in various applications including information instruments because they have features that recording can be conducted at high speed and with a low noise, multi-color images can be formed with ease, printing patterns are very flexible, and neither development nor fixing is unnecessary. Further, they begin to be widely applied to a field of recording of full-color images because images formed by a multi-color ink-jet system are comparable in quality with multi-color prints by a plate making system and photoprints by a color photographic system, and such images can be obtained at lower cost than the usual multi-color prints and photoprints when the number of copies is small.
With the enlarged utilization of the ink-jet recording system, further improvements in recording properties such as speeding up and high definition of recording, and full-coloring of images are required, so that recording apparatus and recording methods are improved. In order to meet such requirements, a wide variety of recording media have heretofore been proposed. For example, there have been proposed paper for ink-jet recording, in which a coating layer having good ink absorbency is provided on a surface of a substrate (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S55-5830), and the use of amorphous silica as a pigment in an ink-receiving layer laminated on a substrate for recording medium (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S55-51583).
With the diversification of uses, it has also been required to reduce the occurrence of curling or cockling of printed articles for the purpose of improving the quality of recorded images. These phenomena are both considered to be caused due to the occurrence of expansion or shrinkage and distortion on a recording medium by absorption of an ink. In the present invention, the cockling means a phenomenon that a printed surface of a recording medium is made irregular or waved. As means for avoiding this cockling phenomenon, there have heretofore been proposed the following methods.
(1) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H3-38376, H3-199081, H7-276786 and H8-300809 describe recording media using paper having an underwater elongation and a wetted elongation within respective specified ranges. However, since the technical ideas described in these documents are based on the premise that water is evenly given to the whole of a recording medium, they cannot cope with a case where states applied with a liquid differ with portions.
(2) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-46498 discloses a crosslinking treatment in which a water-proofing agent, a polymer, a size and the like are used to form a bound structure between fibers, and also discloses to the effect that the degree of floating after 10 seconds from printing is controlled to 1 mm or small. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-201597 has proposed a recording medium in which cellulose fiber is shrunk by a mercerization treatment that a treatment with an alkali is conducted on the whole surface, and discloses to the effect that friction with an ink-jet recording head is avoided. Incidentally, these proposals are both those for recording media on which no ink-receiving layer is provided.
(3) The constitution that an ink-receptive layer containing a water-repellent component in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-158805 and a void layer formed of a thermoplastic resin such as polyurethane in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-154268 are respectively provided as intermediate layers for barrier preventing penetration of inks between an ink-receiving layer and a substrate is described. Since these intermediate layers both act as a barrier preventing penetration of inks, the quantity of inks absorbed is reduced, and an ink-absorbing speed is lowered when the quantity of inks printed is great because the inks printed do not penetrate into the substrate, so that ink overflowing and/or bleeding may be caused in some cases.
(4) Proposals for the solution, which are different from the methods in the above-described publicly known documents, include the following proposals. Namely, the proposals comprise providing an additional structure on a recording medium. A recording medium, in which ink-receptive layers are provided on both surfaces of a substrate, a recording medium, in which a back coat layer is provided on a surface opposite to an ink-receiving layer, and a recording medium, in which substrates are laminated on each other into a two-layer structure, are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H2-270588, 2001-253160 and 2002-2092, respectively.
(5) On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-211121 discloses a recording medium, in which an aqueous solution containing a cationic resin and an alumina hydrate is coated on an ink-receiving surface of a single-layer fibrous structure composed mainly of a fibrous material containing no filler and making no use of a size (non-sized). It is described that according to the structure disclosed in this document, the cationic resin and alumina hydrate can be caused to exist on the surface of the fibrous material, thereby surely trapping an anionic colorant, so that an excellent image can be formed without causing cockling and very great curling upon formation of a 100% solid-printed image.
(6) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-246840 discloses a recording medium, in which an ink-receiving layer having an inorganic pigment and a binder is formed in a coating weight of 1 to 10 g/m2 on a base material composed mainly of pulp fiber. In Comparative Example 2, it is described that when an ink-receiving layer containing no binder was formed on a base material subjected to a sizing treatment, an alumina hydrate that is an inorganic pigment entered pulp fiber, and the surface of the pulp was scarcely coated with the alumina hydrate.
The present inventors have carried out an investigation on various kinds of the recording media proposed in the prior art documents mentioned above and found, on all the recording media, a phenomenon that new cockling or curling is caused when printing is conducted in an ink quantity exceeding 100% in particular. When the state thereof has been analyzed, it has been found that the number of portions undergoing cockling substantially increases, so that the cockling is conspicuous. The present inventors have also found that when a quantity of an ink applied to a recording medium is increased to 2 times or 3 times to form an image, the ink-absorbing capacity of the recording medium itself is lowered, so that ink overflowing and/or bleeding may be caused in some cases to fail to achieve good image quality.
The present inventors have paid attention to the fibrous materials of the substrates to carry out research and investigation. As a result, the following facts have been confirmed. Since the alumina hydrate and cationic resin are coated on the fibrous material by on-machine coating in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-211121, the alumina hydrate is limited by the application of the cationic resin to the surface of the fibrous material and partially scattered. It has been confirmed that the cockling-inhibiting effect by the alumina hydrate is not sufficiently brought about on the recording medium disclosed in this document as described below.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-246840, the substrate containing pulp and a filler and size-pressed is used. Accordingly, when the alumina hydrate is applied without using a binder like Comparative Example 2 of this document, the alumina hydrate cannot be applied to the surface of the substrate fiber, but only fills in voids formed by the pulp. It has been thus confirmed that this constitution does not bring about the cockling-inhibiting effect as described below.
As described above, it has been confirmed that when images are formed by printers for conducting high-speed printing in recent years, or the like, even the various kinds of recording media proposed in the prior art documents are not always satisfied from the viewpoints of image quality, curling, cockling, conveyability and the like.
It is a principal object of the present invention to solve the novel problems on the basis of such new findings.
The present inventors have sought a phenomenon by deformation of fiber, such as swelling and elongation, that is a cockling producing mechanism and considered that it is caused by excessive absorption of water by the fiber and a high degree of freedom of displacement within an allowable space. Accordingly, the present inventors have sought means that a water-holding capacity of the fiber itself can be diffused so as to be optimized, and at the same time the degree of freedom of displacement can also be controlled, thus leading to completion of the present invention.
It is thus a first object of the present invention to provide a recording medium having an ink-receiving layer that can solve the above-described new problem caused by conducting printing in an ink quantity exceeding 100%, permits forming an image high in density and bright in color tone and can settle the cause of the occurrence of new curling or cockling, and a production process of the recording medium.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a substrate (including a case where the substrate itself functions as an ink-receiving layer) for a recording medium for preventing ink overflowing even in an ink quantity exceeding 100%, permitting forming an image high in density and bright in color tone and settling the cause of the occurrence of new curling or cockling, and a production process of the substrate for a recording medium.
The above objects can be achieved by the present invention described below.


This invention relates to soldering.
In one method of soldering, printed circuit boards (PCBs) which are populated with components pass, one at a time, through a three step process: flux is applied to electrical connection points on both the PCB and the components; the PCB and the components are preheated; and the electrical connection points are brought in contact with molten solder.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication, and more particularly, to a method for transmitting a data unit in a wireless local area network system and a device for supporting the same.
2. Related Art
In recent years, with the development of information and communication technology, various wireless communication technologies have been developed. Among them, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a technology that enables a portable terminal such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, and a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP) to access an Internet in a wireless scheme at a house, a business, or a specific service providing zone.
Unlike an existing wireless LAND system for supporting High Throughput (HT) and High Throughput (VHT) using 20/40/80/160/80+80 MHz bandwidth of 2 GHz and/or 5 GHz band, a wireless LAN system capable of being operated at a band less than 1 GHz is suggested. If the wireless LAN system is operated at a band less than 1 GHz, service coverage by an access point AP may be expanded as compared with an existing LAN system. Accordingly, one AP manages more STAs.
Meanwhile, according to variation in a frequency band and a bandwidth of a used wireless channel, and rapid increase of service coverage due to this, various implementation examples with respect to a format of a new data unit usable in a next generation wireless LAN system and a transmitting method according thereto have been provided. According to the varied wireless environment and introduction of a varied format of the data unit, there is a need to suggest a method of transmitting data units capable of reducing performance degradation of a wireless LAN system and providing more efficient data processing performance.


Light transmissions used for communication are extremely secure due to the fact that the light transmission is focused within a narrow beam, requiring placement of equipment within the beam itself to establish a communication link. Also, because light transmissions in the visible spectrum are not regulated by the FCC, light transmissions may be used for communications purposes without the need of a license. Light transmissions are also not susceptible to interference nor do they produce noise that may interfere with other devices.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used as light sources for data transmission, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,879,263 and 7,046,160, the entire contents of each being expressly incorporated herein by reference. LED technology provides a practical opportunity to combine lighting and communication. This combination of lighting and communication allows ubiquitous light sources to be converted to, or supplemented with, LED technology to provide for communications while simultaneously producing light for illumination purposes.
Regarding office buildings, building management is a complex science which incorporates and governs all facets of human, mechanical and structural systems associated with buildings. As a result of the complexity, most commercial buildings are managed by commercial property management companies with great expertise. Both at the time of construction and throughout the life-cycle of a building, the interrelationships between people and the mechanical and structural systems are most desirably evaluated.
Another very important consideration associated with building management is energy management. Energy management is quite challenging to design into a building, because many human variables come into play within different areas within a building structure. Different occupants will have different preferences and habits. One occupant may require full illumination for that occupant to operate efficiently or safely within a space, while a second occupant might only require a small amount or local area of illumination. Further complicating the matter of energy management is the fact that many commercial establishments may experience rates based upon peak usage. A business with a large number of lights that are controlled with a common switch may have peak demands which are large as compared to total consumption of power, simply due to the amount of power that will rush into the circuit. Breaking the circuit into several switches may not adequately address inrush current, since a user may switch more than one switch at a time, such as by sliding a hand across several switches at once. Additionally, during momentary or short-term power outages, the start-up of electrical devices by the power company is known to cause many problems, sometimes harming either customer equipment or power company devices.
Energy management may also include consideration for differences in temperature preferred by different occupants or for different activities. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) demand or need is dependent not only upon the desired temperature for a particular occupant, but also upon the number of occupants within a relatively limited space
With careful facility design, considerable electrical and thermal energy can be saved. Proper management of electrical resources affects every industry, including both tenants and building owners. In many instances facility design has been limited to selection of very simple or basic switches, and thermostats, and particular lights, all fixed at the time of design, construction or installation.
Modern communications systems interconnect various electrical, electro-mechanical, or electrically controlled apparatuses. These connections may be referred to as connections between client devices and host devices. Host devices are simply parts of a network that serve to host or enable communications between various client devices. Generally speaking, host devices are apparatuses that are dedicated to providing or enabling communications. Peer-to-peer networks may also exist wherein, at any given moment, a device may be either client or host. In such a network, when the device is providing communication, data, information or services, it may be referred to as the host, and when the same device is requesting information, it may be referred to as the client.
Client devices may commonly include computing devices of all sorts, ranging from hand-held devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to massive mainframe computers, and including Personal Computers (PCs). However, over time many more devices have been enabled for connection to network hosts, including for exemplary purposes printers, network storage devices, cameras, other security and safety devices, appliances, HVAC systems, manufacturing machinery, smart phones, mobile applications and so forth. Essentially, any device which incorporates or can be made to incorporate sufficient electronic circuitry may be so linked as a client to a host.
Most current communications systems rely upon wires and/or radio waves to link clients and hosts. Existing client devices are frequently designed to connect to host network access points through wired connections, fiber optic connections, or as wireless connections, such as wireless routers or wireless access points.
Buildings frequently incorporate wireless networks which are subject to a number of limitations. One of these is the lack of specific localization of a signal and device. For exemplary purposes, even a weak Radio-Frequency (RF) transceiver, in order to communicate reliably with all devices within a room, will have a signal pattern that will undoubtedly cross into adjacent rooms. When many rooms are to be covered by different transceivers, signal overlap between transceivers requires more complex communications systems, including incorporating techniques such as access control and device selection based upon identification. Radio frequency systems are subject to outside tapping and corruption, since containment of the signal is practically impossible for most buildings.
In addition to data communications, buildings and other spaces may also have a number of needs including, for exemplary illumination, fire and smoke detection, temperature control, and public address to name a few. With regard to illumination, buildings and other spaces are designed with a particular number and placement of particular types of light bulbs. Most designers incorporate incandescent or fluorescent bulbs to provide a desirable illumination within a space. The number and placement of these bulbs is most commonly based upon the intended use of the space.
The art referred to and/or described above is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 1.56(a) exists.
All U.S. patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention, a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72.


(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waveguide type semiconductor photodetector and, more particular, to a wide-band semiconductor photodetector having a waveguide and exhibiting a high optical sensitivity and a low output distortion.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A conventional semiconductor photodetector incorporating therein a waveguide for guiding incident light to an optical absorption layer (hereinafter called waveguide type semiconductor photodetector or simply photodetector) has a layer structure wherein p- and n-type semiconductor layers sandwich therebetween a lightly-doped optical absorption layer or core layer to form a p-n junction. This type of semiconductor photodetector is generally applied with a reverse bias voltage between the p- and n-type semiconductor layers to deplete the optical absorption layer of carriers, and takes advantage of the high electric field generated in the depleted layer in the optical absorption layer to effect a photo-electric conversion of a signal light received through the incidence facet of the waveguide. In this process, the semiconductor photodetector receives the signal light through the incidence facet to guide the same to the optical absorption layer, and detects excited carriers generated by the incident light in the depletion layer as a photo-current. The excited carriers generated and drifting in the depletion layer are separated by the high electric field in the depletion layer as separate holes and electrons. The separated electrons reach p-type cladding layer and the separated holes reach n-type cladding layer, thereby contributing the generation of the photo-current.
The waveguide type semiconductor photodetector has several advantages including selection ability by the wavelength of the signal light, a high operational speed, and a wide-band characteristic. It also has the advantage of having a profile and a structure similar to those of a semiconductor laser etc. to facilitate integration therewith.
However, it is difficult to adapt the mode field diameter of the conventional photodetector to the core diameter (or mode field diameter) of an optical fiber to be coupled with the photodetector for optical transmission, thereby raising a problem of coupling loss therebetween.
The optical adaptation in the mode field diameter between two systems, such as between the optical fiber and photodetector is discussed herein in view of the importance in reduction of the optical loss. Assuming that axial deviation between the two systems is in one direction, i.e., either horizontal or vertical direction, the coupling factor .eta. between the two systems can be represented by the following equation: EQU .eta.=2.multidot.W.sub.1 .multidot.W.sub.2 /{(W.sub.1.sup.2 +W.sub.2.sup.2).multidot.exp [-2.delta..sup.2 /(W.sub.1.sup.2 +W.sub.2.sup.2)]} (1)
wherein W1 and W2 represent mode field diameters of both the systems, and .delta. represents the deviation or offset amount between the optical axes of both the system. The equation (1) is obtained from overlapping integral of electric field in the one direction.
The coupling loss between the two systems can be calculated by the above equation (1) from a specified mode field diameter ratio (or relative mode field diameter) between the two systems: if the ratio is 2, then the calculated coupling loss is 1 dB; and if the ratio is 3, then the calculated coupling loss is 2.5 dB.
In the case where the internal quantum effect is assumed 100% and if the mode filed diameter ratio between the two systems is 2, the optical sensitivity of the photodetector for a signal light having a 1.3 .mu.m wavelength is approximately 0.85 A/W, and if the ratio is 3 in a similar condition, the optical sensitivity is approximately 0.6 A/W.
It is to be noted the mode field diameter of the photodetector should be equal to that of the optical fiber or quartz waveguide to be coupled therewith in order to obtain a satisfactory coupling efficiency or to reduce the coupling loss. For this purpose, the optical absorption layer of the photodetector should be grown to have a sufficient thickness, for example, 4 .mu.m or above to be adapted with the diameter of the light emitted from the optical fiber or quartz waveguide.
However, it is difficult to obtain a thickness of 4 .mu.m or above for an optical absorption layer in a photodetector wherein the layer structures including the optical absorption layer is epitaxially grown on a substrate. Namely, the adaptation of the mode field diameter by increasing the thickness of the epitaxial optical absorption layer is not practical in the photodetector.
JP-A-4(1992)-241272 proposes a photodetector wherein the optical absorption be 0.15 .mu.m thick to reduce the confinement efficiency thereof, thereby increasing the effective mode field diameter of the optical absorption layer. This proposal, however, has a problem in which a high electric field generated within the optical absorption layer causes a zener break-down due to a tunnel current.


The invention relates to a method and system for determining movement of a motor in a vehicle power window system for detecting an object caught between the window and its respective frame.
Many vehicles today have electronically controlled windows and electronically controlled sun/moon roofs. These systems provide the operator with ease in opening and closing the windows. However, if the operator is distracted while closing the window, it is possible for an object, such as an arm, hand or finger, to be caught between the window and the window frame of the automotive window.
Power window systems typically include a regulator attached to the window for opening and closing the window and driven by an electric drive motor. The motor current wave form of these windows has a distinct sinusoidal component caused by the commutation process. Each commutation pulse can be related to angular rotation of the motor armature. Thus, window position can be determined by counting the commutation pulses. However, a problem arises due to random error pulses mixed in with the commutation pulses thereby introducing error into the position count. The error pulses cannot be filtered out using conventional band pass filter techniques because the magnitude and frequency of these error pulses are within the frequency range of the commutation pulses.
Thus, there exists a need for accurately determining movement of the motor via a change in the position of the motor for determining the presence of an object caught between a power window and its respective frame.
A method and system is disclosed for determining movement of a motor in a vehicle power window system. A current sensor senses a current of the motor and generates an input signal having a phase associated therewith. A signal generator generates a voltage controlled reference signal having a predetermined phase and a frequency associated therewith. A comparator is in communication with the current sensor and the signal generator for comparing the phase of the input signal with the phase of the reference signal. A control circuit, in communication with the signal generator, determines whether there is any movement of the motor based on the comparison.
The comparator determines a difference between the phase of the input signal and the phase of the reference signal and passes this difference to the signal generator, which then adjusts the frequency of the reference signal based on this difference. A second comparator converts the adjusted reference signal into a digital signal having pulses so that the control circuit can count the number of pulses in the adjusted reference signal to determine the position of the motor. The control circuit also determines whether the position is changing. If the position does not change, this may be indicative of an obstruction.
A motor drive circuit that controls the power window system is controlled to either stop or reverse the direction of the motor if the position of the motor has not changed and is constant.
These and other features of the present invention can be understood from the following specification and drawings.


1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to volatile material dispensing devices and operating methodologies therefore and, more particularly, to such devices and methodologies that dispense multiple volatile materials.
2. Description of the Background
Volatile material dispensing devices come in a variety of different forms. Some dispensing devices require only ambient airflow to disperse a liquid volatile material therefrom, e.g., from a wick extending from a volatile material container. Other devices are battery-powered or receive household power via a plug extending from the device. Some such battery-powered devices include a heating element for heating a volatile material to promote vaporization thereof. Other devices employ a fan or blower to generate airflow to direct volatile material out of the device into the surrounding environment. Still other devices that dispense volatile materials utilize ultrasonic means to dispense the volatile materials therefrom. In yet another example, some dispensing devices are configured to automatically actuate an aerosol container containing a pressurized fluid to dispense the fluid therefrom.
In the past, various means have been utilized to dispense one or more volatile materials from a single device. Multiple volatile materials have been used, for example, to prevent habituation, which is a phenomenon that occurs when a person becomes used to a particular volatile material such that they no longer perceive that volatile material. Alternatively or in conjunction, multiple volatile materials have been used to provide environmental effects that can be customized by a user, e.g., to provide a first fragrance in the morning to gently encourage a user to awake from sleep and a second fragrance in the evening to calm the user before falling asleep.
Due, in part, to the variety of user preferences and needs for creating individualized environmental effects, there is an ever growing need for different volatile material dispensing devices to suit different users. Consequently, the present disclosure provides volatile material dispensers with different operating methodologies that may be preferred by some users over other devices.


The present invention relates to an apparatus for grinding and polishing a seam and more specifically to apparatus for grinding and polishing a welded seam between plates of stainless steel. Prior apparatus for such grinding and polishing generally consisted of a manually manipulated grinder and a separate manually manipulated polishing mechanism. Such apparatus required at least semi-skilled labor for its operation and compared to the apparatus of the present invention required a substantially greater length of time to complete the grinding and polishing operation. The apparatus of the present invention accomplishes the grinding and polishing function rapidly and effectively with a minimum of man power and with the use of operators having lesser skills than were required with prior devices.


When a borehole is drilled for hydrocarbon exploration, it is conventional to insert a casing string into the borehole to protect the borehole formation. A liner string can then be suspended within the casing string and can be connected to the top side by a drill string. Normally, cement is injected into the annulus between the outer surface of the casing string and the inner surface of the borehole in order to secure the casing string.
There are devices available that permit pressure testing of the casing string, or if present also permit pressure testing of the liner string, or which permit activation of pressure activated tools in the casing or liner string, the majority of these devices permitting pressure testing, or pressure activation respectively, after the cement has been inserted into the annulus.
However, in order to be able to pressure test the casing string after cementing, it is known to run in a packer tool. The packer tool comprises an outer expandable seal that when expanded seals against the inside of the casing string, which then permits pressure testing above the site of the seal. However, using such a packer tool can be detrimental to the casing string, as the packer tool exerts very high loads on casing when pressure testing, typically in the region of 10,000-15,000 psi. Further, the packer tool must be retrieved from the well after the testing operation has been completed.
Alternatively, a seat is provided at a suitable point on the inside of the casing or liner string so that when a plug is released, it travels down the casing or liner string and will hopefully land on the seat, thereby forming a seal so that pressure testing can occur above the plug. However, the plug and seat arrangement has the disadvantage that it is not certain that the plug will correctly land on the seat. The plug is normally released during the cementing operation and often does not land correctly on the seat, making it impossible to perform the pressure test. Further, the plug and seat pressure testing arrangement has the disadvantage that the cement is usually in position and has set or hardened by the time the pressure test is conducted. Therefore, if there is a leak in the system, the casing cannot be retrieved, resulting in expensive and time consuming remedial work to ensure pressure integrity.
Further, it has been known for the plug and seat pressure testing arrangement to fail during a pressure test. If this occurs, then the build up of high fluid pressure that precedes the failure can expel the cement from its intended location, and thus causes a poor cement job that requires remedial work.
If a packer, or the plug and seat arrangement is used after the cement has set, the high fluid pressure that is exerted on the casing can cause the metal casing to be bowed outward or expanded. This causes the cement to be displaced. Therefore, after the fluid pressure has been removed, the profile of relatively elastic metal casing will return to its original pre-pressure test state, but the cement may have set or hardened, and thus will not return to its original pre-pressure test state. Therefore, a micro-annulus may be formed between the outer diameter of the casing and the cement bond in the borehole, which may lead to gas migration up the borehole, and/or loss of zonal isolation.
In order to activate pressure operated tools located downhole, such as a conventional liner hanger system, or a conventional running tool for running a liner hanger system downhole, it is known to drop a ball down the casing string in the fluid path. The ball eventually lands on a ball seat located below the tool to be activated. Thus, the fluid path is blocked. This results in an increase in the fluid pressure, which can then activate the pressure operated tool. Then, when the pressure operated tool has been activated, the fluid pressure is increased such that the ball and/or the ball seat is sheared out of position, down the string. Fluid circulation can then continue in the same manner as before the ball was dropped.
However, there are various problems associated with this conventional apparatus and method for activating a pressure operated tool. The time taken for the ball to reach the ball seat can be considerable, and there can be problems with getting the ball to land on the ball seat, particularly in highly deviated wells such as horizontal wells, where the ball may have to travel a relatively long distance through a horizontal section of the well. Also, when the ball and/or the ball seat has been sheared out of position, the formation receives a hydraulic shock, which can lead to a loss of circulation of the fluid.


The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for changing the imaging scale in x-ray lithography. The apparatus includes a source for generating a collimated beam of radiation, means for positioning a mask in the beam of radiation before an object to be structured, an adjustment or mounting unit for positioning the object in the beam and for alignment of the object relative to the mask.
The progressive miniaturization of micro-electronic components places an extremely high demand on the performance capability of the lithographic methods. Thus, it is currently possible to routinely generate structures having dimension in a micrometer range (d=2-4 .mu.m), with a light-optical projection predominantly utilized in very large scale integration (VLSI) fabrication.
It has been suggested, as a further improvement in light optical methods, to utilize short-wave ultraviolet light having a wavelength .tau..apprxeq.200-300 nm. However, the utilization of very short-wave ultraviolet light has a lot of technical problems so that the theoretical limit of resolution of about 0.5-0.8 .mu.m can probably not be achieved.
One is, therefore, forced to develop new lithographic methods for producing structures in the sub-micron region. For example, see an article by H. Schaumburg "Neue Lithografieverfahren in der Halbleitertechnik", Elektronik 1978, No. 11, pp. 59-66. X-ray lithographic methods have, therefore, achieved special significance and their resolution is not limited by diffraction effects as a consequence of the short wavelength of the radiation, which wavelength is approximately .tau..apprxeq.0.5-4 nm, but by the range of electrons in the photoresist emitted from the layer to be structured. X-ray lithographic equipment having a conventional radiation source for a whole-wafer exposure of wafers are disclosed, for example, in an article by J. Lyman, "Lithography steps ahead to meet VLSI challenge", Electronics, July 1983, pp. 121-28. In these apparatus, the transfer of the prescribed structure onto the semiconductor wafer occurs on the basis of a shadow imaging in that the adjustment mask-wafer pairs are exposed with an x-radiation coming from a nearly punctiform source. The imaging of the mask structure onto the wafer surface corresponding to a conical projection occurs with a magnification scale M=1: (1+P/L), which is defined by the distance P (P.apprxeq.30 .mu.m) between the mask and wafer and the distance L (L.apprxeq.30 cm) between the x-ray source and the wafer. The changes in the rated size of the mask and the wafer, which changes occur during the manufacturing process as a consequence of thermal expansion and warping, can be compensated in a simple way in that the conical projection by the imaging scale is correspondingly adapted by changing what is referred to as the proximity distance P. This known method, however, fails when electron synchrotons or, respectively, electron storage rings are utilized as high-intensity x-ray sources. As a consequence of the high collimation degree of the synchroton radiation emitted by the electrons circulating on the circular path, the exposure of the mask-wafer pair arranged at a distance of several meters from the source or storage ring occurs on the basis of nearly exact parallel projection and, thus, L.apprxeq..infin.. In order to also guarantee a high overlay degree in the synchroton lithography, it must be assured that size variations of mask and wafer can be compensated by adapting the imaging scale.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to safety devices for revolvers and, more specifically, to an indicia for marking a single empty chamber in an otherwise loaded revolver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Gun safety has long been of primary importance to gun enthusiasts. The many deaths and injuries which occur annually due to the accidental discharge of a bullet from a revolver serve to emphasize the importance of gun safety.
In the past, gun safety was principally geared toward mechanical safety mechanisms which would work in conjunction with the revolvers. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,842,847, 3,085,360, and 3,208,176 essentially disclosed a mechanism or means for physically blocking or preventing the undesired discharge of a bullet from a fire arm. U.S. Pat. No. 2,100,273 disclosed a mechanical means for indicating when a gun barrel was loaded.
These safety mechanisms were somewhat effective in preventing the accidental discharge of a bullet from a revolver. However, when these mechanisms malfunctioned, either the safety mechanism or the revolver was rendered inoperative. Furthermore these mechanisms were often clumsy and/or inconvenient to employ, causing many gun enthusiasts to use the mechanisms less than they otherwise would have.
The most effective method for assuring safe handling of a gun was simply to keep the revolver unloaded. However, this method was totally inapplicable to situations in which the revolver was about to be used or situations where it was essential to fire the revolver quickly once the need or desire to do so was perceived. In the May 1981 issue of Guns and Ammo magazine, it was stated that the best method for gun safety under these circumstances was to carry the revolver with the hammer down on an empty chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,526 disclosed a revolver capable of firing a variety of loads or bullet types and having an indicia on the cylinder of the revolver for indicating what types of loads are in each chamber of the revolver. However, these indicia were limited to identification of chambers compatable with particular load types for use with that particular type of revolver and did not in any way fill the need for indicating a particular empty chamber for use of a standard revolver consistant with the practice of keeping the hammer down on an empty chamber.
Thus a need exists to provide means for rapidly and conveniently identifying the specific empty chamber onto which the hammer was to rest so as to prevent the underside discharge of a bullet therefrom.


The subject invention generally relates to a curable, powder-based coating composition for coating a substrate. More specifically, the subject invention relates to a curable, powder-based coating composition that includes a powder-based binder and a color effect-providing pigment for coating a substrate that has a first color effect with a film layer. Upon application of the film layer to the substrate, the color effect-providing pigment interacts with the first color effect of the substrate to produce a second color effect that is different from the first color effect of the substrate.
Powder-based coating compositions are known in the art. A film layer of such powder-based coating compositions is applied to a substrate throughout various industries, such as the automotive coating industry, for certain functional and aesthetic purposes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,379,947; 5,552,487; 5,569,539; 5,601,878; and 5,639,821 all disclose various powder-based coating compositions known in the prior art. It is also known in the art to incorporate conventional pigments, and even conventional flake pigments, specifically mica or aluminum flake pigments, into powder-based coating compositions.
The powder-based coating compositions of the prior art, even those conventional coating compositions that incorporate conventional mica or aluminum flake pigments, are deficient because, upon application of the film layer of the coating composition to the substrate, the film layers of the prior art compositions do not achieve a suitable color effect that varies from an original color effect of the substrate. These prior art compositions cannot attain the suitable color effect because the various pigments incorporated into the powder-based coating compositions, even mica and aluminum flakes, do not appropriately interact with light waves to establish angle-dependent color and lightness effects that are responsible for achieving the suitable color effects. As such, coating systems that rely on such conventional powder-based coating compositions first require application of a color-providing basecoat layer, or other coating layer, that underlies the film layer of the powder-based coating composition to provide the angle-dependent color and lightness effects.
In the interest of eliminating the necessity for any color-providing basecoat layer, and also because the film layers of the prior art compositions do not achieve suitable color effects that vary from the original color effect of the substrate, it is desirable to implement a unique powder-based coating composition that incorporates a color effect-providing pigment interacting with a first color effect of a substrate to produce a second color effect differing from the first color effect. It is also desirable that the powder-based coating composition of the subject invention does not require application of an underlying color-providing basecoat layer to achieve the second color effect.
A curable, powder-based coating composition is disclosed. The coating composition is utilized for coating a substrate, having a first color effect, with a film layer of the coating composition. Application of the film layer to the substrate produces a second color effect different from the first color effect of the substrate.
The coating composition includes a powder-based binder. The powder-based binder is the reaction product of a resin and a cross-linking agent. More specifically, the resin has a functional group and the cross-linking agent is reactive with the functional group of the resin. The coating composition also includes a color effect-providing pigment. The color effect-providing pigment includes a pigment substrate and an inorganic coating. More specifically, the pigment substrate has first and second substantially parallel and planar surfaces, and the inorganic coating is disposed on at least one of the first and second substantially parallel and planar surfaces of the pigment substrate. Furthermore, the inorganic coating disposed on the pigment substrate has an index of refraction of 1.8 or less.
Application of the film layer of the powder-based coating composition to the substrate allows the inorganic coating, having the index of refraction of 1.8 or less, and the pigment substrate of the color effect-providing pigment to interact with the first color effect of the substrate to produce the second color effect. The subject invention, therefore, provides a unique powder-based coating composition for coating a substrate that incorporates particular color effect-providing pigments to interact with the first color effect of the substrate to produce the second color effect. Accordingly, the coating composition of the subject invention also allows for the elimination of any color-providing basecoat underlying the film layer of the powder-based coating composition.
The curable, powder-based coating composition of the subject invention coats at least one surface of a substrate, having a first color effect, with a film layer. It is to be understood that the powder-based coating composition of the subject invention includes exclusively powder-based coating compositions as well as powder slurry-based coating compositions. The first color effect is the original color and original appearance of the substrate. Application of the film layer of the powder-based coating composition to the substrate produces a second color effect that is different from the first color effect of the substrate.
Although metallic substrates, such as automotive body panels, are typical, the powder-based coating composition may be applied to other substrates without varying the scope of the subject invention. By way of example, the powder-based coating composition may be applied to a plastic substrate. Also, the powder-based coating composition of the subject invention is primarily utilized as a powder clearcoat applied to the substrate to produce the second color effect without an underlying color-providing basecoat film layer. The powder-based coating composition of the subject invention may also be utilized with an underlying film layer, such as the underlying color-providing basecoat film layer, where the underlying film layer is actually the substrate to which the film layer of the powder-based coating composition is applied. In other words, the substrate is not required to be a bare automotive body panel.
The powder-based coating composition includes a powder-based binder and a color effect-providing pigment. The color effect-providing pigment is described below. The powder-based binder is a film-forming binder that is the reaction product of a resin and a cross-linking agent. The resin includes a functional group, and the cross-linking agent is specifically reactive with the functional group of the resin. More specifically, the resin of the power-based binder is selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polyester resins, urethane resins, and combinations thereof. The functional group of the resin is selected from the group consisting of epoxy functional groups, carboxy functional groups, hydroxy functional groups, and combinations thereof. The cross-linking agent reactive with the functional group of the resin is selected from the group consisting of aminoplasts, blocked isocyanates, polycarboxylic acids, acid anhydrides, polyamines, and combinations thereof.
The color effect-providing pigment includes a pigment substrate and an inorganic coating. The subject invention preferably combines from 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of the color effect-providing pigment based on 100 parts by weight of the powder-based binder. The pigment substrate has first and second substantially parallel and planar surfaces, and the inorganic coating is disposed or applied on at least one of the first and second substantially parallel and planar surfaces of the pigment substrate. Preferably, the inorganic coating is disposed or applied on both the first and second substantially parallel and planar surfaces. The pigment substrate is preferably a platelet-shaped pigment substrate. In the context of the subject invention, the terminology platelet-shaped indicates that the pigment substrate is a minute, flattened body. Furthermore, the pigment substrate is preferably selected from the group consisting of metallic pigment substrates, non-metallic pigment substrates, and combinations thereof, depending on the particular embodiment of the subject invention. The inorganic coating also has an index of refraction of 1.8 or less. The inorganic coating and the pigment substrate, and other optional coatings as set forth below, establish a symmetrical, multilayer interference structure of the color effect-providing pigment.
The inorganic coating of the color effect-providing pigment varies depending on the embodiment. A suitable example for the inorganic coating is an inorganic coating including a metal oxide. The inorganic coating may also be selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, magnesium fluoride, and combinations thereof. Further suitable examples for the inorganic coating of the color effect-providing pigment include inorganic coatings selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon oxide hydrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxide hydrate, titanium oxide, titanium oxide hydrate, zinc sulfide, magnesium fluoride, and combinations thereof.
As described below, the inorganic coating and the pigment substrate of the color effect-providing pigment interact with the first color effect of the substrate to produce the second color effect upon application of the film layer of the powder-based coating composition to the substrate. When the color effect-providing pigment is incorporated into the powder-based binder according to the subject invention, the interaction of the inorganic coating and the pigment substrate with the first color effect to produce the second color effect is further defined as interference of light waves. In this embodiment, the interference of the light waves establishes angle-dependent color and lightness effects to achieve the second color effect. The interaction of the inorganic coating and the pigment substrate may also be defined as absorption of light waves to establish the angle-dependent color and lightness effect to achieve the second color effect, or as reflection of light waves to establish the angle-dependent color and lightness effects to achieve the second color effect. In one embodiment of the subject invention, the inorganic coating and the pigment substrate interact with the first color effect of the substrate such that the second color effect is different from the first color effect at least by xcex94L 20.0, xcex94a 10.0, and xcex94b 15.0 as measured according to CIELab color space.
The color effect-providing pigment further includes a reflective, absorbing coating which is at least partially transparent to visible light. For descriptive purposes of the subject invention, use of xe2x80x9cat least partially transparent to visible light,xe2x80x9d throughout the description indicates that the pigment substrate, the inorganic coating, or other coatings that are described in such terms, such as the reflective, absorbing coating introduced immediately above, generally transmit at least 10%, preferably at least 30%, of incident light. The reflective, absorbing coating includes a selectively absorbing metal oxide, or a non-selectively absorbing metal, or both. For descriptive purposes of the subject invention, the terminology metal oxide, as used herein, is also intended to encompass metal dioxides, metal trioxides, and so on. The reflective, absorbing coating is preferably disposed or applied on the inorganic coating.
The color effect-providing pigment further comprises an outer coating disposed or applied on the reflective, absorbing coating. The outer coating is different from the reflective, absorbing coating and preferably includes a selectively absorbing metal oxide. The symmetrical, multilayer interference structure includes the pigment substrate, the inorganic coating, the reflective, absorbing coating, and the outer coating.
In an embodiment where the pigment substrate of the color effect-providing pigment is a metallic pigment substrate, the most preferred metallic pigment substrate is aluminum. Other suitable metallic pigment substrates include, but are not limited to, all metals and alloys in platelet form known as metallic pigment substrates, such as steel, copper, copper alloys including brass and bronze, and aluminum bronze. The aluminum pigment substrate may be a passivated or an unpassivated aluminum pigment substrate. The aluminum pigment substrate preferably has an average particle size of from 5 to 50, preferably from 10 to 20, and most preferably from 13 to 16, microns. Alternatively, the aluminum pigment substrate may have a particle-size distribution where 50% of the aluminum pigment substrate has a particle size of from 13 to 16 microns and where no more than 5% of the aluminum pigment substrate has a particle size of greater than 50 microns.
The inorganic coating disposed on the aluminum pigment substrate preferably comprises a metal oxide. Alternatively, the inorganic coating disposed on the aluminum pigment substrate may be selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon oxide hydrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxide hydrate, and combinations thereof. In either embodiment for the inorganic coating, the inorganic coating has an index of refraction of 1.8 or less, preferably 1.6 or less. Also in either embodiment for the inorganic coating, the inorganic coating disposed on the aluminum pigment has a thickness of from 200 to 600, preferably from 300 to 500, nanometers (nm). It is to be understood that the thickness of the inorganic coating, and all other coatings described in the subject invention, varies as a function of the properties of the components selected for the inorganic coating. For instance, the thickness of an inorganic coating including silicon oxide may differ from the thickness of an inorganic coating including aluminum oxide.
Where the pigment substrate is the aluminum pigment substrate, the color effect-providing pigment optionally further comprises a reflective, selectively absorbing metal oxide. The metal oxide is disposed on the inorganic coating and has an index of refraction of 2.0 or greater and is at least partially transparent to visible light. In such embodiments, the index of refraction of the reflective, selectively absorbing metal oxide is more preferably 2.4 or greater. If present, the reflective, selectively absorbing metal oxide preferably has a thickness of from 1 to 500, more preferably from 10 to 150, nm.
The color effect-providing pigment in this embodiment optionally further comprises an absorbing, outer coating. The absorbing, outer coating is different from the reflective, selectively absorbing metal oxide. Furthermore, the absorbing, outer coating is disposed on the reflective, selectively absorbing metal oxide. Preferably, the absorbing, outer coating is selected from the group of selectively absorbing oxides consisting of iron (III) oxide, chromium (III) oxide, vanadium (V) oxide, titanium (III) oxide, and combinations thereof. Alternatively, the absorbing, outer coating may be selected from the group of non-selectively absorbing oxides consisting of titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations thereof. If present, the absorbing, outer coating has a thickness of from 1 to 200, more preferably from 10 to 150, nm.
The symmetrical, multilayer interference structure of the color effect-providing pigment, where the metallic pigment substrate is the aluminum pigment substrate, includes Fe2O3 as the reflective, selectively absorbing metal oxide, SiO2 as the inorganic coating, Al as the metallic pigment substrate, SiO2 as the inorganic coating, and Fe2O3 as the reflective, selectively absorbing metal oxide. That is, this color effect-providing pigment has a symmetrical, multilayer interference structure of Fe2O3/SiO2/Al/SiO2/Fe2O3. Such color effect-providing pigments having the metallic pigment substrate are commercially available from BASF Corporation, Southfield, Mich. as Variocrom(copyright) Magic Red K 4411 (formerly ED 1479) and Magic Gold K 1411, and are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,504, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. With Variocrom(copyright) Magic Red K 4411, the second color effect is produced as a result of a color shift from red-to-yellow. With Variocrom(copyright) Magic Gold K 1411, the second color effect is produced as a result of a color shift from greenish gold-to-reddish gray. It is to be understood that the color shifts that produce the second color effect are primarily driven by the thickness of the SiO2 inorganic coating.
The metallic pigment substrate may also be selected from the group consisting of chromium, nickel, and combinations thereof. If the metallic pigment substrate is chromium or nickel, the color effect-providing pigment, as a whole, has an average particle size of from 5 to 40, preferably from 20 to 40, microns. Alternatively, when the metallic pigment substrate is chromium or nickel, the color effect-providing pigment, as a whole, can have a particle size distribution where no more than 10% of the pigment has a particle size of greater than 50 microns and substantially none of the pigment has a particle size of greater than 125 microns.
In this embodiment, the inorganic coating disposed on the metallic pigment substrate is a dielectric inorganic coating having an index of refraction of 1.65 or less. The inorganic coating having the index of refraction of 1.65 or less is selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon oxide hydrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxide hydrate, magnesium fluoride, and combinations thereof.
In this embodiment, the color effect-providing pigment optionally further includes a semi-transparent metal coating disposed on the inorganic coating. The semi-transparent metal coating most preferably includes aluminum. Alternatively, the semi-transparent metal coating is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, copper, silver, and combination thereof.
The symmetrical, multilayer interference structure of the color effect-providing pigment, where the metallic pigment substrate is the chromium or nickel pigment substrate includes Al as the semi-transparent metal coating, SiO2 or MgF2 as the inorganic coating, and chromium or nickel as the metallic pigment substrate. Such color effect-providing pigments are commercially available from Flex Products, Inc., Santa Rosa, Calif., and are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,812 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/172,450, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The metallic pigment substrate may alternatively be steel. In the context of the subject invention, it is to be understood that steel is an alloy of iron and from 0.02 to 1.5 parts carbon. If the metallic pigment substrate is steel, then it is most preferably stainless steel. One suitable example for more generally defining the steel pigment substrate is as an alloy of steel having from 1 to 30 parts by weight of chromium based on 100 parts by weight of the alloy of steel. In the most preferred embodiment, the metallic pigment substrate is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, chromium, nickel, steel, stainless steel, and combinations thereof.
As described above, the pigment substrate may be a non-metallic pigment substrate. The non-metallic pigment substrate has an index of refraction of 2.0, preferably 2.4 or greater. The non-metallic pigment substrate may be iron oxide, mica having an oxide coating, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment where the non-metallic pigment substrate is the mica having the oxide coating, the oxide coating is more specifically defined as a TiO2 coating having a thickness of from 10 to 300 nm. As with the metallic pigment substrate, the non-metallic pigment substrate has an average particle size of from 5 to 50 microns. Preferably, the average particle size of the non-metallic pigment substrate is from 10 to 30, and most preferably from 15 to 20 microns.
With the non-metallic pigment substrate, the inorganic coating disposed on the substrate, is preferably selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, magnesium fluoride, and combinations thereof. Alternatively, the inorganic coating disposed on the non-metallic pigment substrate is selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon oxide hydrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxide hydrate, and combinations thereof. The inorganic coating has a thickness of from 20 to 800, preferably from 50 to 600, nm.
The color effect-providing pigment optionally further includes a reflective, absorbing coating disposed on the inorganic coating. The reflective, absorbing coating is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal sulfides, metal nitrides, and combinations thereof. The reflective, absorbing coating has a thickness of from 1 to 500, preferably from 10 to 150, nm.
The color effect-providing pigment optionally further includes an absorbing, outer coating. The absorbing, outer coating is different from and is disposed on the reflective, absorbing coating described above. Preferably, the absorbing, outer coating comprises a metal oxide. Alternatively, the absorbing, outer coating may be selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon oxide hydrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxide hydrate, tin oxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, iron (III) oxide, chromium (III) oxide, and combinations thereof.
The symmetrical, multilayer interference structure of the color effect-providing pigment, where the non-metallic pigment substrate is the iron oxide pigment substrate, includes Fe2O3 as the reflective, absorbing coating, SiO2 as the inorganic coating, Fe2O3as the non-metallic pigment substrate, SiO2 as the inorganic coating, and Fe2O3 as the reflective, absorbing coating. That is, this color effect-providing pigment has a symmetrical, multilayer interference structure of Fe2O3/SiO2/Fe2O3/SiO2/Fe2O3. Such color effect-providing pigments having the non-metallic pigment substrate are commercially available from BASF Corporation, Southfield, Mich. as Variocrom(copyright) Magic Purple K 5511 (formerly ED 1480), and is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,125, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. With Variocrom(copyright) Magic Purple K 5511, the second color effect is produced as a result of a color shift from violet-to-gold. As above, it is to be understood that the color shift that produces the second color effect with the Variocrom(copyright) Magic Purple K 5511 is primarily driven by the thickness of the SiO2 inorganic coating.
A coating system is also disclosed. The coating system includes the substrate, preferably the automotive body panel, having the first color effect. The coating system also includes the film layer of the powder-based coating composition as described above. The film layer is at least partially-transparent to visible light. As such, the most preferred coating system is where the powder-based coating composition is a powder clearcoat applied on the substrate to produce the second color effect.
The coating system may optionally include a second film layer. Preferably, the second film layer is also at least partially-transparent to visible light. The second film layer is applied on the film layer of the powder-based coating composition. The purpose of the application of the second film layer on the first film layer is primarily to enhance appearance characteristics, such as gloss, of the film layer, if necessary. For instance, the coating system may be a high-gloss coating system when the second film layer is included. More specifically, with the second film layer, the coating system utilizing the powder-based coating composition of the subject invention has a 20 degree gloss of at least 65, preferably of at least 75, as defined by ASTM D523-89 (Re-Approved 1999). Alternatively, the coating system utilizing the powder-based coating composition may have a 60 degree gloss of at least 75, preferably of at least 85, as defined by the same ASTM standard. The 20 and 60 degree glosses are preferably measured with a BYK-Gardner Micro-Gloss Meter, specifically Model No. GB-4501. Alternatively, a BYK-Gardner Haze-Gloss Meter, preferably Model Nos. GB-4601 and GB-4606, may be utilized having a different scale of gloss units. In general, if the powder-based coating composition according to the subject invention is not utilized as strictly a single-layer, powder clearcoat, then it may be utilized as a color-providing basecoat film layer with a second, non-pigmented clearcoat applied over the color-providing basecoat film layer.
The coating system may alternatively include an underlying film layer applied to the substrate prior to application of the film layer of the powder-based coating composition. Where the underlying film layer has been applied, the underlying film layer is the substrate to which the film layer of the powder-based coating composition is applied. As such, it is to be understood that the underlying film layer can be an electrocoat film layer, a primer surfacer film layer, or a color-providing base coat film layer as known in the art.
A method for coating the substrate is also disclosed. Generally, the method for coating the substrate to produce the second color effect upon application of the film layer is characterized by using the powder-based coating composition set forth above. More specifically, in the subject method, the powder-based binder and the color effect-providing pigment are combined to establish the powder-based coating composition. Preferably, the powder-based binder and the color effect-providing pigment are combined in amounts from 0.1 to 10, more preferably from 1 to 6, parts by weight of the color effect-providing pigment based on 100 parts by weight of the powder-based binder.
The step of combining the powder-based binder and the color effect-providing pigment varies depending on the embodiment of the subject invention. In one embodiment, the step of combining is further defined as dry blending the color effect-providing pigment into the powder-based binder. In the dry blending embodiment, it may be particularly important that the pigment substrate have an increased particle size toward the upper limit of from 5 to 50, preferably from 25 to 40, xcexcm. The increased particle size of the pigment substrate in the dry blending embodiment is important to minimize pigment settling and flocculation concerns and also to ensure that the color-effect providing pigment produces the second color effect. The dry blending embodiment, further includes the step of agitating the dry blend of the color effect-providing pigment and the powder-based binder. As such, the color effect-providing pigment is uniformly dispersed throughout the powder-based binder.
In another embodiment, the step of combining is further defined as extruding the color effect-providing pigment into the powder-based binder. In the extruding embodiment, it may be particularly important that the pigment substrate is stainless steel such that the pigment substrate of the color effect-providing pigment can effectively withstand the forces typically involved in the extruding of the color effect-providing pigment. The extruding embodiment further comprises the step of milling the extrusion of the color effect-providing pigment and the powder-based binder to establish the powder-based coating composition.
Finally, the step of combining according to the various preferred embodiments may also be defined as bonding, more specifically impact bonding, the color effect-providing pigment with the powder-based binder.
The subject method further includes the step of applying the powder-based coating composition to the substrate. Upon application of the powder-based coating composition, the second color effect is produced as a result of the interaction of the inorganic coating and the pigment substrate with the first color effect of the substrate as described above. It is to be understood that the most preferred manner in which to apply the powder-based coating composition is by spray application. Finally, the film layer of the powder-based coating composition is cured such that the film layer produces the second color effect.
The following examples illustrating the formation of the powder-based coating composition according to the subject invention and illustrating certain properties of the film layer of the coating composition applied on the substrate, as presented herein, are intended to illustrate and not limit the invention.