The distribution of television signals has increasingly become based on digital methods and digitally encoded forms of video and audio signals. At the same time, higher resolution (high definition TV) has become available in the market place, commensurate with larger and higher definition displays. To meet the requirement of interconnecting such high definition displays with digital signal sources such as Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players and receivers/decoders for digital satellite and digital cable distribution of video material, a digital interface standard has evolved, known as the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). A detailed specification for HDMI can be obtained from the “hdmi.org” website. The HDMI specification currently available and used in this application is HDMI specification version 1.3 dated Jun. 22, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. This HDMI standard can be employed for connecting digital video sources to digital video sinks over a cable that carries a number of digital signals and a clock signal.
The inherent characteristics and manufacturing imperfections of high-speed differential signaling cables such as may be used to carry HDMI signals have an adverse effect on the high-speed signals carried by the cable.
For example, any cable has a limited bandwidth and therefore acts as a low pass filter. The bandwidth of the cable is related to its length, the longer the cable the greater the filtering effect and the lower its bandwidth. As a result, high-frequency signals passing through the cable are attenuated, and their edges become less sharp. This leads to an increased risk of misinterpreting the received data at the receiver end of the cable, especially for long cables and high-speed data.
FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate the effect of the limited bandwidth of a cable on the transmitted signals. FIG. 1A illustrates a high-speed signal to be transmitted through a high-speed cable, FIG. 1B shows a distorted bandwidth-limited signal received at the receiver end of the cable (before equalization), and FIG. 1C shows the received signal at the receiver end after equalization. As seen from FIG. 1B, the signal edges are slowed and short pulses are narrowed, not reaching the full transmitted amplitude.
Differential signaling cables are commonly used to carry high-speed digital signals in differential form, that is, pulses of opposing polarities are transmitted on the two strands of the cable. The differential signal carried over such cables may be warped, that is the two signal components (positive and negative polarities V+ and V−) are skewed in time with respect to each other (differential skew), further distorting the received signal.
The impact of differential skew is depicted in timing diagrams in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
FIG. 2A shows an example timing diagram of the two single ended signal components (V+, V−) of the differential data on an HDMI channel, as it may be transmitted by an HDMI source into a cable. A timing diagram of the corresponding differential signal (Vdiff−xmit) in FIG. 2A illustrates the corresponding differential signal that is clean and easily interpreted.
FIG. 2B shows an example timing diagram of the two single ended signal components (V+ and V−del) of the differential data on an HDMI channel, as it might be received at the end of a cable. For the sake of clarity, only the effect of the differential skew is shown in FIG. 2B. The signals V+ and V− are skewed in time with respect to each other. The negative signal component V− is delayed with respect to the signal component V+ by a differential skew delay of Td. A timing diagram of the corresponding distorted differential signal (Vdiff−rcv) in FIG. 2B illustrates that, as a consequence of the differential skew, the differential signal Vdiff−rcv is significantly distorted with clearly visible plateaus in the signal where the differential signal is zero (0). These plateau regions can only be interpreted as noise by the receiver, the result of which is to reduce the width of the window of valid data. This reduction is seen as a closure of the receive data eye and directly compromises the channel quality. The amount of differential skew delay (Td) depends on the characteristics of each individual cable, and is basically constant.
Earlier approaches to improving cable quality so far have been limited to embedded passive equalizer circuits within the cable, which boost high frequencies of the signals attenuated in the cable. Such equalizers are fixed to compensate for a fixed cable length.
While the equalization required for a given cable depends largely on the length of the cable, other characteristics of high-speed signaling cables such as the differential skew, being more random, may vary substantially between the cables.
Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for the development of an improved high-speed signaling cable, which would provide improved signal characteristics.
Earlier High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) signal boosters that can be used to boost HDMI signals use external power inputs, see e.g. Long Reach™ product of Gennum corporation, which has been submitted in an Information Disclosure Statement. As a result, they cannot be embedded in a standard HDMI cable. A more recent development is a stand-alone “super booster” that can be inserted inline with a cable, and is also available integrated in an HDMI cable, see references: Gefen Inc., submitted in an Information Disclosure Statement, including an advertisement of a standalone HDMI “super booster; A manual for the standalone HDMI” super booster, which has been submitted in an Information Disclosure Statement; and an advertisement for a cable with an integrated HDMI “super booster”, which has been submitted in an Information Disclosure Statement.
The possibility of embedding an active device within the cable is associated with a problem. Firstly, no power input may be available for such a device except through the cable, i.e. there is no provision for external power supplies. Secondly, in the case of the HDMI cable, there is not enough power available to power a simple signal regenerator, primarily because of the specification requirement to provide a termination voltage for the inputs. As a result, the embedded active device apparently cannot be powered as required.
In more detail, the main power requirement for an HDMI signal booster is the requirement to provide a termination voltage (3.3V) with the capability to source 12 mA for each of three HDMI inputs. The power that is available from the cable comes from a 5V line, from which a maximum current of 5 mA can be drawn (as per HDMI specification V1.3) when the sink device is active, i.e. the total available power is limited to 50 mW. The combined power requirement of the input terminations on the other hand is approximately 12 mA*3.3V*3=120 mW. Unfortunately, these requirements cannot be met in a standard HDMI cable in a simple way.
Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for the development of an improved signal booster with an improved power control circuit for embedded cable applications based on one or more active devices, which would avoid or mitigate the above noted problem.


The goal of hybrid development is to combine, in a single hybrid, various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may include resistance to diseases and insects, resistance to heat and drought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, and plant and ear height is important. Traditional plant breeding is an important tool in developing new and improved commercial crops.


In a connection-oriented communication method using a connection-type protocol typified by TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), end-to-end connection between a communication device and a correspondent communication device is first established, and then data is sequentially transmitted via the connection. The connection is released when the data transmission is completed. This type of communication method is characterized in that once a circuit (or a session) is established between communication devices; the same circuit is dedicated to the data transmission until the session is completed.
A communication carrier, which provides a packet communication service by way of connection-oriented communication, charges one of the parties on the basis of an amount of data transmitted and received during a connection period from when the connection is established until the connection is released. For example, in a case that a communication terminal requests a content server to deliver content to the terminal, a connection is first established between the communication terminal and the content server. The communication terminal transmits a content request message via the established connection to the content server, and, in response to the request message from the communication terminal, the content server delivers content to the communication terminal via the same connection. The connection is released after the communication terminal receives the content. The carrier operating the packet communication service performs a billing process, after obtaining information required for billing, on the basis of data transmitted or received via the connection, with the data including the request message sent from the communication terminal to the content server and the content delivered to the communication terminal.
In such connection-oriented communication, however, there exists a problem in that communication may be discontinued before data transmission is complete. This may occur as a result of an instruction issued by one of the communicating devices or as a result of a failure of a connection link. In the case that communication is discontinued following issuance of a request message, requested content can not be fully delivered from a content server to a requesting terminal; and consequently a carrier operating the packet communication service may not be able to obtain information required for billing, as a result of which it becomes impossible for a communication charge relative to the request message to be collected.


1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of sharpening devices for chain saw cutters and particularly to a sharpening device that is mounted to the chain saw housing, and which when actuated will automatically sharpen the cutters when the cutters are in motion.
2. Description of Prior Art
There have been numerous designs for saw chain sharpeners mounted directly upon the chain saw to eliminate the tedious and time consuming hand filing of the chain cutters. Such chain saws use top sharpening chains of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,973, Chain Saw With Sharpening Means, by Muir.
A typical prior art sharpener is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,602, Saw Chain Sharpener And Method by R. R. Carlson. The Carlson sharpener includes a body pivotally mounted to the saw housing which contains an adjustable sharpening element mounted thereon. To sharpen the chain one need only rotate the body so that the sharpening element contacts the chain, preferably at a point where the cutters are traveling over the driving sprocket. While this design works it had several drawbacks. One of these is that the amount of force applied to the cutters is variable and thus there is always a possibility of over-sharpening and prematurely wearing the cutters. It is also subject to clogging due to debris becoming caught between the sharpening element and body.
Another example can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,795, Easily Dressed Sharpener by M. D. Tupper. In the Tupper design a carrier housing is movably mounted on the saw housing. A bushing is slideably mounted in the carrier. Rotatably mounted in the bushing is a shaft having a grinding stone at one end. The stone is biased away from the bushing by means of a spring. The operator pushes a knob attached to the opposite end of the shaft causing the stone to engage the cutters. The biasing means provides a resilient contact with the cutters tending to limit the force applied. Wear is compensated for by means of a separate screw which moves the carrier toward the cutters. This design is relatively expensive to manufacture, is subject to clogging, and there is no real means to totally control the force applied. Furthermore the screw has no detent means so it is difficult to know how much advancement should be made in order to compensate for wear.
A design which eliminates the clogging problem and provides for accurate adjustment of stone feed to compensate for wear was developed by J. L. Dilworth and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,253, Chain Saw Sharpener. The Dilworth design includes a stone movable from a retracted position to one in engagement with the cutters. A spring within the housing is used to bias the stone to the retracted position. An adjustment knob is provided on the opposite end which when rotated feeds the stone to compensate for wear. An internal detent is also provided which provides accurate feed control. The movement of the grinding stone is controlled by an adjustable stop. Thus having the mechanism within the housing eliminates the possibility of clogging, and the use of the detent provides accurate feed. But even here there is a possibility of over-adjusting the stone, which can result in premature wearing out of the stone and a reduction in the life of the cutters.
Other patents of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,147,644, Sharpening Means For Chain Saws by J. W. Oreilli; 3,596,689, Saw Chain And Sharpeners by J. W. Oreilli; and 3,301,098, Chain Saw Sharpening Wheel by J. W. Oreilli.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a chain saw sharpener which automatically compensates for grinding stone wear.
Another object of this invention is to provide a chain saw sharpener that is inexpensive to manufacture.
A further object of this invention is to provide a chain saw sharpener that does not require precise positioning in order to accomplish sharpening of the chain.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a chain saw sharpener that is relatively insensitive to the force applied by the operator, thus reducing the possibility of prematurely wearing out the chain.


The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus and a display control method and, for instance, to a receiving apparatus and a display control method which enable reception of a chargeable program and display output of information relating to the chargeable program.
In recent years, systems have spread in which a television signal is transmitted in the form of a digital signal from satellites such as a broadcast satellite and a communication satellite and such a broadcast signal is received and viewed in each home, for instance. Since such a broadcast system can secure as many as close to 150 channels, for instance, it can broadcast many more programs than existing ground wave broadcast systems, for instance.
In such broadcast systems, to allow reliable selection of a desired program from among a number of programs, it is proposed to transmit an electronic program guide (EPG) which contains programs scheduled to be broadcast. The receiving side receives and displays the EPG and selects a desired program by checking it.
Further, such broadcast systems are scheduled to broadcast, as part of broadcast programs, chargeable programs called pay-per-view programs (hereinafter abbreviated as xe2x80x9cPPV programsxe2x80x9d). A system for providing PPV programs is one form of what is called a video-on-demand system which allows a user to immediately view a desired program or the like upon his request.
A PPV program is transmitted from the transmission side in a scrambled state. When a user performs a procedure for purchasing a desired program by a given manipulation, the receiving apparatus side, for instance, cancels the scrambled state of a PPV program to allow viewing of the purchased program.
Generally speaking, when a user determines whether to purchase a PPV program, the most important factor is how long a PPV program that the user intends to view has been broadcast from its start time.
That is, in a state that a subject PPV program has been broadcast for only a short time or its broadcast start time has not yet occurred, a user can recognize the content of the program completely or almost completely if he purchases and starts viewing the PPV program right away. On the other hand, in a state that a subject PPV program has been broadcast for a certain time, it is difficult for the user to recognize the content of the remaining part of the PPV program if he purchases and starts viewing it at that point; it is not very meaningful for the user to purchase this PPV program.
For example, it is conceivable to display, by characters, the broadcast start and end times of each PPV program as time-related information of PPV programs in a purchase guide picture for purchasing of the PPV programs.
In this case, for example, a user determines whether to purchase a subject PPV program by recognizing how long it has proceeded in time at the present time by referring to its broadcast start and end times that are character-displayed on a purchasing picture and checking the present time. However, in this method, it is difficult for a user to recognize quickly and sensibly the degree of progress in time until the present time of a PPV program with respect to its total broadcast duration which he should recognize most appropriately. There may occur a case that a user makes an erroneous manipulation of purchasing a PPV program in spite of the fact that it has been broadcast for a certain time, with an erroneous judgment that there still remains an ample broadcast time.
In view of the above, it is preferable to improve the ease of operation of an interface that is used in purchasing a PPV program, that is, to improve a purchasing picture so that a user can recognize as sensibly as possible the degree of progress in time of a PPV program until the current time with respect to its total broadcast duration.
Further, the above-mentioned broadcast systems include systems that perform a service called xe2x80x9cnear video on demandxe2x80x9d (hereinafter abbreviated as NVOD) as well as a PPV programs providing service. For example, the NVOD is a service in which the same broadcast program is broadcast several times with delays in start time by using a plurality of channels. With this service, even if a user fails to view, from the start, a desired program that is broadcast on a certain channel, he will be able to view it from the start with a waiting time of several minutes to tens of minutes, for instance, by selecting another NVOD channel.
Therefore, for NVOD-type PPV programs, it is preferable to construct a more effective user interface by adapting the above-mentioned purchasing picture to NVOD, that is, by adapting it so that information relating to PPV programs that are or will be broadcast on the other channels are displayed there.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a user interface that a user can use more easily in purchasing a program.
According to the invention, there is provided a receiving apparatus which receives transmitted program information of a plurality of programs together with transmitted video and audio signals thereof, comprising selecting means for selecting a desired program from among the plurality of programs; and chargeable program information display control means for displaying information relating to a chargeable program that is selected by a given manipulation from among programs that are rendered selectable by the selecting means, the chargeable program information display control means presenting a graphic display indicating progress in time of the selected chargeable program at a present time.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display control method for a receiving apparatus which receives transmitted program information of a plurality of programs together with transmitted video and audio signals thereof and displays program information of a selected program, the display control method comprising the steps of judging whether a chargeable program has been selected by a tuner; and presenting a graphic display indicating progress in time of the selected chargeable program at a present time if it is judged that the chargeable program has been selected.
With the above constitution of the invention, the progress in time of, for instance, a PPV program (chargeable program) is graphically displayed as PPV-program-related information in a PPV program purchasing picture. Therefore, for instance, an elapsed broadcast time of the PPV program at the present time with respect to its total broadcast time can be displayed so as to be recognized visually.
Where a selected PPV program accommodates NVOD, such information as the progress in time of each of PPV programs having the same contents as the selected PPV program and to be broadcast on different channels can also be displayed in a purchasing picture, for instance.


Fungal, bacterial and viral diseases in crop plants result in reduced yields and product quality and are responsible for substantial losses to farmers. For example, rice blast, an often devastating disease that occurs in most rice growing areas worldwide, is estimated to cost farmers $5 billion a year (Moffat, 1994). The disease reduces rice yield significantly, particularly in the temperate flooded and tropical upland rice ecosystems. The use of resistant cultivars is the most economical and effective method of controlling the disease. Over the last decades, much has been learned about the genetics of resistance to the blast fungus. Many major genes for resistance have been identified and widely used in breeding programs. However, the molecular mechanism of host resistance to this pathogen is mostly unknown.
When a plant is attacked by a pathogen such as the rice blast fungus, it can in most cases fend off the infection by mounting a battery of defense responses (Lindsay et al., 1993). The activation of plant defense occurs upon pathogen recognition and results in the halt of pathogen ingress. Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is one important component of this complex system that plants use to defend themselves against pathogens (Ryals et al., 1996). SAR can be triggered by a local hypersensitive response(HR) to an avirulent pathogen, which renders uninfected parts of the plant resistant to a variety of normally virulent pathogens. SAR is a particularly important aspect of plant-pathogen response because it is a pathogen inducible, systemic resistance against a broad spectrum of pathogens.
Significant progress has been made recently in deciphering molecular aspects of SAR. The Arabidopsis gene NPR1/NIM1 has been cloned using a map-based strategy (Cao et al., 1997; Ryals et al., 1997). Mutants with defects in NPRI/NIMl fail to respond to various SAR-inducing treatments, displaying little expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and exhibiting increased susceptibility to infections. The gene encodes a novel protein containing ankyrin repeats and shows homology to the mammalian signal transduction factor IKB subclass a, suggesting that RPN1/NIM1 may interact with an NF-KB-related transcription factor to induce SAR gene expression and trigger disease resistance (Ryals et al., 1997).
The ankyrin repeat is a 33-amino acid motif present in a number of proteins of diverse functions including transcription factors, cell differentiation molecules, and structural proteins (Bennet, 1993). The ankyrin motif consensus sequence contains the following sequence of amino acids shown as SEQ ID NO:1:
-D----G-TPLH-AA-------V--LL--GA-
(LaMarco, 1991). This motif has been shown to mediate protein interactions and is usually present in tandem arrays of four to seven copies (Michaely and Bennett, 1993). Ankyrin repeat-containing proteins have been shown to have diverse functions and to be involved in protein-protein interactions. Some of these proteins in mammals are transcription-regulating proteins, such as the NF-KB, inhibitor IKB (Baldwin, A. 1996; Whiteside et al., 1997). The NF-KB/IKB signal transduction pathways are conserved in both mammals and flies. A stimulus such as IL-1 treatment or bacterial inoculation leads to activation of a signal transduction pathway because of the degradation of IKB or its homolog and the release of the NF-KB transcription factor to the nucleus to stimulate transcription (Baeuerie and Baltimore, 1996; Baldwin, 1996). In Arabidopsis, NPR1/NIM1, which is homologous to the NF-KB inhibitor IKB, controls the onset of SAR. The transcription factor targeted by NPR1/NIM1 serves as a repressor of SAR gene expression and disease resistance either by direct or indirect action (Ryals et al., 1997).
SAR is an important plant defense mechanism against infectious pathogens. For example, evidence suggests that SAR can protect plants against rice blast disease. The SAR inducer benzo (1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (xe2x80x9cBHTxe2x80x9d) was found to be effective in controlling the blast disease in field conditions.
A gene has been isolated from blast resistant plants that encodes a novel protein containing ankyrin repeats. This gene, designated RANK1, for rice ankyrin repeats, has significant homology to the Arabidopsis gene NPR1/NIM1 and the mammalian signal transduction factor inhibitor I-KB. The RANK1 gene encodes a protein that is believed to play an important role in rice defense to the blast pathogen infection as well as to other diseases which respond through SAR. Since both the RPN1/NIM1 and RANK1 genes code for ankyrin repeats, it is believed that these repeats may be responsible for SAR induced resistance to plant disease, especially rice blast disease.
Accordingly, the present invention provides, in one embodiment thereof, an isolated nucleic acid comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
In another embodiment, the invention provides recombinant DNA expression vectors functional in a plant cell comprising a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:2.
A third embodiment is a plant cell stably transformed with a nucleic acid comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
Yet another embodiment provides a transgenic plant transformed with a nucleic acid comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
The invention further provides a method of conferring resistance to disease in a monocotyledonous plant comprising stably integrating into the genome of said plant the nucleic acid having the sequence which codes for a protein comprising the ankyrin motif sequence.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of conferring resistance to rice blast disease in a monocotyledonous plant comprising stably integrating into the genome of said plant the nucleic acid having the sequence which codes for a protein comprising the ankyrin motif sequence.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clutch driving device, particularly a clutch driving device that operates a clutch in a horizontal motion and vertical translation method, by generating lever-sided vertical translation via a move distance of rollers horizontally moving to both sides and converting the vertical translation into operational translation for pressing a release bearing.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, while manual transmissions operate, the engine power is temporarily cut before the shift gear is engaged, and then the engine power is transmitted after the shift gear is engaged, and clutches are used for this operation.
A pedal type clutch driving device having a structure including a clutch pedal and a clutch and pressing a clutch pack connected to the clutch pedal with a force transmitted from the clutch pedal is commonly used to operate the clutch. The pedal type clutch driving device is generally used for a manual transmission.
The pedal type clutch driving device using a clutch pedal is a constant-close type, in which as a driver presses down the clutch pedal, the force pressing the clutch is removed, such that the gears can be shifted.
AMTs (Auto Manual Transmission) have been developed and practically applied to vehicle, which have the convenience of automatic transmissions, in addition to the advantages of manual transmission, with the technological development.
Further, DCTs (Double Clutch Transmission) are called a second generation AMT by using two clutches divided from the input shaft of a manual transmission and having a clutch/gear actuator.
The DCT has two clutches respectively connected to an odd-numbered shift input shaft and an even-numbered shift input shaft and is classified into a wet type similar to a wet type multi-plate type and a dry type similar to a clutch, in accordance with the clutch type.
Accordingly, the DCT is implemented in a pre-selection way that engages in advance a shift gear connected with a second clutch in traveling where a first clutch is connected with the engine, that is, shifting according to the traveling condition is performed in advance in the gear train.
The two clutches connected to the odd-numbered shift input shaft and the even-numbered shift input shaft are operated by a clutch driving device, which uses electric actuator for operating the clutches.
In general, electric actuator requires an operational structure for holding the clutch and a clutch self-opening function for ensure fail safety concept when power is cut in the vehicle.
FIG. 5 show a clutch driving device equipped with an electric actuator having the function.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the clutch driving device includes a clutch 100, a release bearing 200 changing the stroke to engage clutch 100, a lever 300 lifted to pressure release bearing 200, a reciprocating body 400 lifting lever 300 while moving in the longitudinal direction of lever 300 along support plate 310, and an actuator 500 moving forward/backward reciprocating body 400 in the longitudinal direction of lever 300, using a screw rod 510.
Actuator 500 is composed of a motor.
In this structure, a pivot point B where reciprocating body 400 moves in the longitudinal direction of lever 300 with respect to lever 300, the total force applied to release lever 200 satisfies Ft=Fs(b/a).
Ft is the total force applied to release bearing 200, Fs is lever spring tensile force, a is the distance from the pivot point B to the point of action C, and b is the distance from the point of the force A to the pivot point B.
The point of the force A is the position where reciprocating body 400 is not moved by the operation of the clutch in the entire length L of lever 300, the pivot point B is the support point of reciprocating body 400 with respect to lever 300, and the point of action C is the position where lever 300 applies force to release bearing 200.
FIG. 5B shows the relationship of force according to mechanical dynamics relationships when the clutch driving device described above operates.
As shown in the figure, as actuator 500 is operated to engage clutch 100, reciprocating body 400 moves forward in the length direction of the lever 300 by the rotation of screw rod 510 and pivot point B correspondingly moves.
Pivot point B moves in the longitudinal direction of lever 300 in accordance to the move distance of reciprocating body 400, such that the distance b from the point of the force A to the pivot point B increases and the total force Ft applied to release bearing 200 increases in the relationship Ft=Fs(b/a). Accordingly, the force applied to clutch 100 through bearing 200 increases and the clutch is strongly engaged.
As described above, a mechanical structure changing the position of the pivot point B of reciprocating body 400 in the longitudinal direction of lever 300 is used in order to variably use the lever ratio b/a in this method.
However, since the change in lever ratio b/a for operating clutch 100 is made by the positional change of the pivot point B, the change in the force of action depending on the position of the pivot point B should be reflected to lever 300. Further, since the operational force of clutch 100 is achieved by forward/backward move of the pivot point B in the longitudinal direction of lever 300, energy consumption increases.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to photographic slide mounting apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Photographic slides are produced by mounting a photographic film transparency into a slide mount frame so that the image of the photographic transparency is aligned with the aperture of the slide mount frame. A variety of different types of mounting frames and mounting apparatus have been developed.
One particularly advantageous type of photographic slide mount is the Pakon Slide Mount, which is a one-piece plastic slide mount sold by Pako Corporation, the assignee of the present application. The film transparency is mounted by flexing open a film insertion slot in the slide mount by means of mounting equipment. The transparency is inserted into the mount and the mount is closed. The spring-like properties of the plastic slide mount material provide the transparency with a safe and tight fit in the slide mount without the need for welding or sealing. United States Patents showing slide mounts and slide mounting apparatus of this general type include the following patents:
______________________________________ Inventor(s) U.S. Pat. No. ______________________________________ Florjancic et al. 3,341,960 Mundt et al. 3,470,642 Mundt et al. 3,478,456 Mundt et al. 3,524,299 Mundt et al. 3,562,074 Mundt 3,570,342 Mundt et al. 3,614,854 Florjancic 3,788,031 Mundt et al. 3,807,121 Mundt et al. 3,943,029 Mundt et al. 3,977,280 Urban 4,004,340 Urban et al. 4,135,343 Thompson 4,102,029 ______________________________________
Apparatus has been developed for both manual and automatic mounting of transparencies in Pakon Slide Mounts. The manual mounting procedure utilizes a hand-held mounting device into which the slide mount is inserted. By grasping the mount and the mounter together at one side, the film insertion opening is widened to permit insertion of a transparency into the slide mount. The transparency has previously been cut from a strip or web of photographic film containing many individual transparencies and is inserted manually into the slide mount.
While the hand mounting apparatus procedure is adequate for mounting small quantities of transparencies in slide mounts, it clearly is not suitable for large-scale production of mounted transparencies as is required in professional photofinishing laboratories. The Pakon 509 Slide Mounter sold by Pako Corporation is an automatic, motor-driven apparatus which mounts photographic film transparencies in Pakon Slide Mounts at rates of up to 160 slides per minute.
In some cases, however, the quantity of transparencies to be mounted by a photofinishing laboratory is not enough to justify the use of automatic slide mounting apparatus such as the Pakon Slide Mounter, yet is greater than that which can be efficiently performed manually. To meet this need, semi-automatic slide mounters have been developed, such as the Type 6001 and 7004 slide mounters developed by Geimuplast Peter and Mundt KG. These semi-automatic slide mounters operate in a manner generally similar to the automatic Pakon 509 Slide Mounter but are driven by an operating handle which is moved by the operator, rather than being motor driven.
The Type 6001 and 7004 semi-automatic slide mounters are operated by moving the operating lever through an operating cycle. During this cycle, the following five functions are performed. First, an insertion slot in a slide mount is widened to receive the transparency. Second, the film web is advanced and inserted into the mount. Third, the transparency is severed from the remainder of the film web. Fourth, the transparency is inserted completely into the slide mount. Fifth, the mounter ejects the mounted slide. These five functions form a complete mounting cycle for each transparency.
Each transparency of a film web contains a photographic image representing a singular instant in time, which in many cases cannot be recreated if the transparency is lost or damaged. Since photographic film transparencies are such a unique commodity, it is very important that the film web and transparencies progress smoothly through the slide mounter to prevent damage to the photographic images contained thereon. If the film web becomes misaligned in the film track, it can become jammed in the machine or miscut by the knife and destroyed. This problem is amplified by the fact that photographic film is coated on one side with an emulsion and this emulsion causes the film to curl transverse to its direction of advancement through the slide mounter. In addition, photographic film strips are usually spliced together to form a "film web" and wound on a reel for developing so that when unwound for mounting in slide mounts, the film web has a longitudinal curl due to being wrapped around the reel. These two types of curl, transverse and longitudinal, can cause considerable problems in feeding the film web through the film track into the slide mount insertion opening in a uniform manner.
In addition to the problems of film curl, it is important that the film track and any areas through which the film web passes be clear of possible obstructions on which the film web could catch and be damaged. Once a transparency has been partially inserted into the slide mount and severed from the film web, it must still be fully inserted into the slide mount without damage to the transparency. The insertion opening of a slide mount must be maintained in a flexed open position as the transparency is fully inserted into the slide mount to prevent scratching or damage to the photographic image.


G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise a large super-family of integral membrane proteins characterized by having 7 hydrophobic alpha helical transmembrane (TM) domains with three intracellular and three extracellular loops (Ji, et al., J Biol Chem 273:17299-17302, 1998). In addition all GPCRs contain N-terminal extracellular and C-terminal intracellular domains. Binding of extracellular ligand may be mediated by the transmembrane domains, the N-terminus, or extracellular loops, either in alone or in combination. For example binding of biogenic amines such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and histamine is thought to occur primarily at the TM3 site while TM5 and TM6 provide the sites for generating an intracellular signal. Agonist binding to GPCRs results in activation of one or more intracellular heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) which, in turn, transduce and amplify the signal by subsequent modulation of down-stream effector molecules (such as enzymes, ion channels and transporters). This in turn results in rapid production of second messengers (such as cAMP, cGMP, inositol phosphates, diacylglycerol, cytosolic ions).
GPCRs mediate signal transduction across a cell membrane upon the binding of a ligand to a GPCR. The intracellular portion of the GPCR interacts with a G protein to modulate signal transduction from outside to inside a cell. A GPCR is thus coupled to a G protein. There are three polypeptide subunits in a G-protein complex: an alpha subunit—which binds and hydrolyzes GTP—and a dimeric beta-gamma subunit. In the inactive state, the G protein exists as a heterotrimer of the alpha and beta-gamma subunits. When the G protein is inactive, guanosine diphosphate (GDP) is associated with the alpha subunit of the G protein. When a GPCR is bound and activated by a ligand, the GPCR binds to the G-protein heterotrimer and decreases the affinity of the G alpha subunit for GDP. In its active state, the G subunit exchanges GDP for guanine triphosphate (GTP) and active G alpha subunit disassociates from both the GPCR and the dimeric beta-gamma subunit. The disassociated, active G alpha subunit transduces signals to effectors that are “downstream” in the G-protein signaling pathway within the cell. Eventually, the G protein's endogenous GTPase activity returns active G subunit to its inactive state, in which it is associated with GDP and the dimeric beta-gamma subunit.
The transduction of the signal results in the production of second messenger molecules. Once produced, the second messengers have a wide variety of effects on cellular activities. One such activity is the activation of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels by the cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP. CNG channels are membrane spanning molecules that control the flux of cations through the cellular membrane. The channels are activated-opened-by increased intracellular concentrations of cyclic nucleotide. Once opened the channels conduct mixed cation currents, including ions of Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, for example. The activity of the CNG channels couples electrical excitation and Ca2+ signaling to changes in the intracellular concentration of cyclic nucleotides (FIG. 1).
Receptor function is regulated by the G protein itself (GTP-bound form is required for coupling), by phosphorylation (by G-protein-coupled receptor kinases or GRKs) and by binding to inhibitory proteins known as β-arrestins (Lefkowitz, J Biol Chem, 273:18677-18680, 1998). It has long been established that many medically significant biological processes are mediated by proteins participating in signal transduction pathways that involve G proteins and/or second messengers (Lefkowitz, Nature, 351:353-354, 1991). In fact, nearly one-third of all prescription drugs are GPCR ligands (Kallal et al., Trends Pharmacol Sci, 21:175-180, 2000).
GPCRs fall into three major classes (and multiple subclasses) based on their known (or predicted) structural and functional properties (Rana et al., Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol, 41:593-624,2001; Marchese et al., Trends Pharmacol Sci, 20:370-375, 1999). Most of these receptors fall into class A, including receptors for odorants, light, and biogenic amines, for chemokines and small peptides, and for several glycopeptide/glycoprotein hormones. Class B receptors bind higher molecular weight hormones while class C includes GABAB receptors, taste receptors, and Ca2+-sensing receptors. GPCRs are found in all tissues. However, expression of any individual receptor may be limited and tissue-specific. As such some GPCRs may be used as markers for specific tissue types.
As might be expected from the wide range of GPCRs and GPCR ligands, aberrant function of these molecules has been implicated in a large number of human disease states (Rana et al. and Ji et al., supra). GPCR agonists and antagonists have been developed to treat many of these diseases. For example the important group of receptors for biogenic amines has been the target of a large number of successful drugs. Among the receptors in this group are those for epinephrine and norepinephrine (α- and β-adrenergic receptors), dopamine, histamine, and serotonin. Examples of diseases in which GPCR function has been implicated include, but are by no means limited to: heart disease (e.g. tachycardia, congestive heart failure, etc.), asthma, hypertension, allergic reactions (including anaphylactic shock), gastrointestinal disorders, and a wide range of neurological disorders (e.g. Parkinson's disease, depression, schizophrenia, etc.). Finally, many receptors for drugs of abuse are GPCRs.
In many animals, GPCRs are found throughout the organism and are responsible for the maintenance of normal function as well as for pathological conditions. In other instances, the expression of specific GPCRs or families of GPCRs is very tightly controlled, e.g., being expressed only during early developmental stages, etc. Consequently, it is important to find compounds that can stimulate or activate GPCRs, or inhibit or deactivate GPCRs as needed. Agonists—compounds that stimulate the normal function of the GPCRs—have been used to treat asthma, Parkinson's disease, acute heart failure, osteoporosis, hypotension, etc. Antagonists, compounds that interfere with or block normal function have been used to treat, hypertension, myocardial infarction, ulcers, asthma, allergies, psychiatric and neurological disorders, anorexia and bulimia.
In addition to well-characterized receptors, many “orphan” receptors have been cloned (Marchese et al., supra) which are known from sequence similarities to be part of these families, but for which no function or ligand(s) have been discerned. Given the central role of GPCRs in control of diverse cellular activities, there remains a need in the art for methods to identify the agonists and antagonists of these “orphan” receptors as well as to identify additional antagonists for those receptors whose agonists—ligands—are known.
As the first recognized second messenger, cAMP is synthesized by adenylate cyclase in response to activation of many receptors coupled to G proteins Gs , and Golf and cyclase activity is inhibited by activation of receptors coupled to G protein Gi. cAMP activates cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) resulting in profound cellular responses. Physiologically, cAMP mediates such hormonal responses as mobilization of stored energy (e.g., the breakdown of carbohydrates in liver or triglycerides in fat cells, conservation of water by kidney, and Ca2+ homeostasis), control of the rate and contraction force of the heart muscle, relaxation of smooth muscle, production of sex hormones, and many other endocrine and neural processes.
There are a number of cAMP assays currently available. They include transcription reporter assay where a luciferase reporter is driven with a cAMP response promoter element CRE, cAMP immunoassay (Applied Biosystems Forster City, Calif.), an in vitro enzymatic assay for adenylyl cyclase (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.) and cAMP fluorescence polarization assay (PerkinElmer Life Sciences, Boston, Mass.). However, all these assays are end point assays where the cells are lysed and extracts are used for the tests. R. Y. Tsien and his colleagues have also developed fluorescent probes that report cAMP levels in single cells. However, the methods of application of these probes to cells makes them not suitable for high throughput screening formats (Adams et al., 1991, Nature 349:694-697; Zoccolo et al., 2000, Nat. Cell Biol. 2:25-29). There is a need in the art to be able to detect the activation of individual living cells for their cAMP production, particularly in a heterogeneous cell or tissue environment. Such detection capability would further allow the examination of receptor activation and cellular response to complex stimuli, as in the case of induced long-term memory. There also exists in the art a need for the ability to directly examine the cAMP in live cells in order to identify ligands for orphan GPCRs based on the concurrent examination of both Ca2+ and cAMP activation in a given cell as well as to identify agents that modulate GPCR-mediated activity. These and other needs are met by the present invention.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a burner for introducing a combustible mixture comprising hydrocarbon fuel, free oxygen-containing gas, and optionally a temperature moderator (liquid or vapor) into a free-flow partial oxidation synthesis gas generator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the partial combustion of a hydrocarbon with oxygen, or air enriched with oxygen, in the presence of steam and/or carbon dioxide, temperatures between 1,100.degree. and 1,500.degree. C. are often reached. Special requirements are therefore placed on the design and the material from which the burner is constructed to avoid damage to the latter.
An essential requirement in burner construction of the type contemplated is that they be cooled or otherwise protected from the high temperature environment. This is most often achieved by circulating water or a similar coolant through the unit. Thus, by constructing the burner both internally and externally with coolant passages, a sufficient amount of heat transfer to the circulating cooling fluid can be achieved to minimize and stabilize the temperature which the burner itself reaches.
Normally, the oxidizing flame which combusts the mixture, introduces the hot flame as well as the products of combustion into a reactor or generator. The latter is lined with a suitable refractory material to avoid damage as a result of the high temperatures that will be reached and sustained.
A relatively vulnerable part of the burner is that section which is continuously exposed for extended periods of time to the high reactor temperatures. Although means have been provided for cooling internal segments of the burner, the problems which result from the high temperature still persist.
For example, external walls of the burner are generally surrounded with a cooling coil or the like which circulates a liquid such as water to effectuate a cooling action. Further, the lower or flame end of the burner is provided with internal passages which permit coolant to be internally circulated to maintain a desired temperature range.
In either instance, the forward most vulnerable face of the burner, can reach certain temperatures, or range of temperatures within which accumulations of particular slag or ash will tend to cling to the exposed burner face. Such a slag build-up will cause a reduction in burn efficiency and eventually impairment of operation and eventual unit shutdown.
These accumulations are prompted generally by back mixing of the combustible particles or ash as the particles enter the reactor. Here they are caught up into the violently turbulent flows of the gas as associated with the high velocity flame.
More specifically it is found that if the temperature on the exposed burner face is in excess of 750.degree. to 900.degree. F., ash particles will be prone to stick thereto. If, on the other hand, the temperature is kept lower than 750.degree. to 900.degree. F. on the face of the burner, the ash sticking will be substantially avoided.
In burners that function as required, it is found that a particle build-up along the burner face will generally commence at the lip of the discharge opening or nozzle. Thereafter, the build-up will progress radially outward from the nozzle and gradually cover a substantial segment of the exposed face. Slag will also build upon itself due to progressive insulation from cooling coil/channel.
One way for precluding or at least limiting this slag build-up along the burner face is to inject steam directly into the combustible mixture within the burner itself. This step will facilitate the avoidance of undesired build-ups at the discharge lip. It will not, however, completely preclude the accumulations as herein mentioned.
For example, the back mixing and flow of the particulated matter as a result of the turbulence immediately inside the reactor, will continue to cause or prompt a certain degree of build-up at the burner face.
Toward overcoming the above stated problems, the present invention is addressed to means for providing a fluid, dynamic shield which protects the entire burner face. The shield is provided in the form of one or more jets of a fluid such as steam, which are projected transversely of the face from a point at the burner periphery.
A number of fluids such as steam, CO.sub.2 or even water could serve as the protective dynamic shield. For the present disclosure, however, the fluid will be considered to be steam.
Physically, one or more high velocity steam jets are caused to sweep the burner face. The jets first of all form a barrier which precludes the hot particles from getting to, or contacting the face. Secondly, the fluid jet is so aligned that it will flow parallel to the face, or will contact or impinge against the face preferably adjacent to the discharge lip. This creates a thermal radiation/convection shield to keep burner face below 750.degree. to 900.degree. F. Thirdly, the flow will thus clear the face of any accumulation that might be initiated.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a burner which is adapted for use in combusting a coal-oxygen mixture to achieve a partial oxidation of the gaseous product. A further object is to provide a burner of the type contemplated that is capable of withstanding undesired particulate depositions along the burner exposed face. A still further object is to provide a burner of the type contemplated wherein one or more high velocity fluid jets are directed to sweep the burner face and maintain it free of accumulated particulate matter and to concurrently protect the face by establishing a fluidized radiation/convection shield thereacross.


Underground junction boxes may remain buried for years. During that time they should protect their contents against the entry of ground water. It is known to completely fill underground junction boxes with a water-displacing medium such as grease. This is messy, however, both at the time the junction box is filled with grease and later if it becomes necessary to access any components or conductors inside the junction box.
There is a need for cost-effective, durable junction boxes suitable for use in below-grade applications. There is also a general need for through-fittings capable of sealing around a cable or the like at the point where the cable passes through a bulkhead.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of corn breeding. In particular, the invention relates to corn seed and plants of the hybrid variety designated CH612435, and derivatives and tissue cultures thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
The goal of field crop breeding is to combine various desirable traits in a single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits include greater yield, better stalks, better roots, resistance to insecticides, herbicides, pests, and disease, tolerance to heat and drought, reduced time to crop maturity, better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value, and uniformity in germination times, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, and fruit size.
Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination. There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from a flower on a different plant.
Corn plants (Zea mays L.) can be bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination. Both types of pollination involve the corn plant's flowers. Corn has separate male and female flowers on the same plant, located on the tassel and the ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs in corn when wind blows pollen from the tassels to the silks that protrude from the tops of the ear shoot.
Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A cross between two such homozygous plants produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many gene loci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of loci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performance unpredictable.
The development of uniform corn plant hybrids requires the development of homozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection are examples of breeding methods used to develop hybrid parent plants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine the genetic backgrounds from two or more inbred plants or various other broad-based sources into breeding pools from which new inbred plants are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred plants and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which of those have commercial potential.
North American farmers plant tens of millions of acres of corn at the present time and there are extensive national and international commercial corn breeding programs. A continuing goal of these corn breeding programs is to develop corn hybrids that are based on stable inbred plants and have one or more desirable characteristics. To accomplish this goal, the corn breeder must select and develop superior inbred parental plants.


Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players—players of different genders, and players of dramatically different ages and skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in the sporting world in that such diverse collections of players can play together in golf events, even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors, together with increased golf programming on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or other golf programming) and the rise of well known golf superstars, at least in part, have increased golf's popularity in recent years, both in the United States and across the world. The number of individuals participating in the game and the number of golf courses have increased steadily over recent years.
Golfers of all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next performance “level.” Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to these demands, and recent years have seen dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range of different golf ball models now are available, with some balls designed to fly farther and straighter, provide higher or flatter trajectory, provide more spin, control, and feel (particularly around the greens), etc.
Being the sole instrument that sets a golf ball in motion during play, the golf club also has been the subject of much technological research and advancement in recent years. For example, the market has seen improvements in golf club heads, shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other technological advancements have been made in an effort to better match the various elements of the golf club and characteristics of a golf ball to a particular user's swing features or characteristics (e.g., club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurement technology, etc.).
Despite recent technological advances, “wood-type” golf clubs, particularly the driver, can be very difficult for some players to hit well. Accordingly, additional technological advances that improve a player's ability to get a golf ball airborne and improve the playability of wood-type golf clubs, particularly the driver, would be welcome in the golf world.


As the method of providing an audio signal to the user is digitized in the analog method, a wider volume area may be expressed. In addition, volume of the audio signal is diversified according to the content corresponding to the audio signal. This is because in an audio content production process, the intended loudness of the audio content may be set differently for each audio content. Accordingly, international standards groups such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have issued standards for audio loudness. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to apply the standards issued by the international standards groups because the method and the standards for measuring loudness are different in each country.
The producers of the contents try to produce the contents with relatively loudly mixed contents and provide them to the users. This is because of the psychoacoustical characteristic which is recognized that the sound quality of the audio signal is improved when the volume of the audio signal is increased. As a result, there is a competitive landscape called a Loudness War. This causes a difference in loudness between contents or a plurality of contents internally, and the user repeatedly adjusts the volume of the apparatus on which the contents are reproduced, and it may suffer from the inconvenience. Therefore, there is a need for a technique for normalizing the loudness of the audio content for the convenience of the user using the content reproduction apparatus.


This invention relates to treatments for ear wax, and in particular to an improved ear wax solution.
Ear wax is produced by ceruminous glands, sebaceous glands, keratinocytes, and hair from the outer third of the human ear canal. Ear wax is composed of lipid coated epidermal cells, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. It is very hydrophobic and not soluble in water. Ear wax functions as a protectant to the inner ear from infection, as well as a cleaning and lubricating agent for the external ear canal. However, accumulation and impaction of ear wax can cause itching, pain, hearing loss, perforated tympanum, tinnitis, dizziness, and increased risk of infection. Approximately 150,000 ear wax removals are performed weekly in America due to such otologic complications. Impaction of ear wax is the most common otologic problem encountered by physicians. It can affect up to 6% of the general population, and 20% of the geriatric population.
Excessive ear wax is often removed in physicians"" offices using mechanical methods. A number of solutions have also been tried to help remove ear wax. Organic based solutions prove not to be very helpful as they appear only to soften the ear wax. Interestingly, water by itself proves to be partially effective. Alkaline solutions (e.g., solutions containing sodium bicarbonate) are somewhat more effective. However, there is still a need for an improved ear wax solution.
This invention relates to an improved ear wax solution. The ear wax solution includes a detergent which is effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear. The detergent is selected from anionic detergents, cationic detergents, zwitterionic detergents, ampholytic detergents, amphoteric detergents, nonionic detergents having a steroid skeleton, or mixtures thereof. The ear wax solution also includes a solvent which is water, a hydrophilic solvent, or a mixture thereof. The ear wax solution also includes an alkaline material effective to make the solution alkaline. The ear wax solution further includes an ionic additive effective to increase the ionic strength of the solution.
In another embodiment, the ear wax solution includes a detergent comprising a salt of a bile acid, the detergent being effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear. The ear wax solution also includes a solvent which is water, a hydrophilic solvent, or a mixture thereof. The ear wax solution also includes an alkaline material effective to make the solution alkaline.
In another embodiment of the invention, an ear wax formulation comprises a detergent, a polymer, and a solvent. The detergent is effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear. The detergent is selected from anionic detergents, cationic detergents, zwitterionic detergents, ampholytic detergents, amphoteric detergents, nonionic detergents having a steroid skeleton, or mixtures thereof. The polymer is effective to enhance the treatment by a mechanism involving at least one of reducing the irritancy of the detergent on the ear canal, and increasing the retention of the formulation in the ear canal and thereby reducing absorption of the formulation into the epidermal tissues of the ear canal. The solvent is water, a hydrophilic solvent, or a mixture thereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ear wax solution includes one or more materials that enhance miscelle formation by the detergent. The formation of miscelles by the detergent optimizes the effectiveness of the ear wax solution.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the ear wax solution contains a plurality of detergents effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear. In some instances the use of two or more detergents together significantly improves the effectiveness of the ear wax solution.
The invention also relates to a method for removing ear wax from an ear. In a first step of the method, an ear wax solution is inserted into the ear in contact with the ear wax, the ear wax solution comprising: (a) a detergent effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear, the detergent being selected from the group consisting of anionic detergents, cationic detergents, zwitterionic detergents, ampholytic detergents, amphoteric detergents, nonionic detergents having a steroid skeleton, and mixtures thereof, and (b) a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, hydrophilic solvents, and mixtures thereof. In a second step of the method, the ear wax solution is maintained in contact with the ear wax for a time sufficient to treat the ear wax. Preferably, the ear wax solution is held inside the ear for at least about 30 seconds, more preferably at least about 1 or 2 minutes, to increase its effectiveness. In a final step, the ear wax solution and ear wax are removed from the ear.
In another embodiment of the method, an ear wax formulation is inserted into the ear in contact with the ear wax. The ear wax formulation comprises: (a) a detergent effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear, the detergent being selected from the group consisting of anionic detergents, cationic detergents, zwitterionic detergents, ampholytic detergents, amphoteric detergents, nonionic detergents having a steroid skeleton, and mixtures thereof, (b) a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, hydrophilic solvents, and mixtures thereof, and (c) a polymer effective to enhance the treatment by a mechanism involving at least one of reducing the irritancy of the detergent on the ear canal, and increasing the retention of the formulation in the ear canal and thereby reducing absorption of the formulation into the epidermal tissues of the ear canal. The ear wax formulation is maintained in contact with the ear wax for a time sufficient to treat the ear wax. Preferably, the ear wax formulation is held inside the ear for at least about 30 seconds to increase its effectiveness. Then, the ear wax formulation and the ear wax are removed from the ear.
In another embodiment of the method for removing ear wax, a first ear wax solution is inserted into the ear in contact with the ear wax. The first ear wax solution comprises: (a) a first detergent effective to loosen the ear wax, and (b) a solvent for the first detergent. The first ear wax solution is maintained in contact with the ear wax for a time sufficient to loosen the ear wax, then removed from the ear. A second ear wax solution is inserted into the ear in contact with the loosened ear wax. The second ear wax solution comprises: (a) a second detergent effective to remove the ear wax, the second detergent being different from the first detergent, and (b) a solvent for the second detergent. The second ear wax solution is maintained in contact with the ear wax for a time sufficient to enable the removal of the ear wax. Finally, the second ear wax solution and the ear wax are removed from the ear.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
The present invention relates to an improved ear wax solution that can be used at home or at the office of a physician or practitioner (e.g., an otologist) to improve ear hygiene and to ease ear wax removal.
The ear wax solution comprises a detergent and a solvent which is water and/or a hydrophilic solvent. The detergent is effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear. The detergent is selected from anionic detergents, cationic detergents, zwitterionic detergents, ampholytic detergents, amphoteric detergents, or nonionic detergents having a steroid skeleton. Mixtures of such detergents can also be used. The detergent can be synthetic, natural, or semi-synthetic.
Suitable anionic detergents may include, but are not limited to, the following: long-chain (fatty) alcohol sulphates; alkali metal soaps, RCOOX, where X is sodium, potassium or ammonium, and R has a chain length between C10 and C20; alkyl aryl sulphonates; sulphonated olefins; sulphated monoglycerides; sulphated ethers; sulphated polyoxyethylated alcohols; sulphated oils; sulphosuccinates; sulphonated methyl esters; alkane sulphonates; phosphate esters; alkyl isethionates; acyl sarcosides; alkyl taurides; and fluorosurfactants. Some specific examples include sodium deoxycholate, sodium dodecyl sulphate, potassium laurate, hexadecylsulphonic acid, and sodium dioctylsulphosuccinate. In general, anionic detergents are preferred for use in the ear wax solution.
Suitable cationic detergents may include, but are not limited to, the following: hexadecyl(cetyl)trimethylammonium, dodecylpyridinium chloride, dodecylamine hydrochloride, cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium-bromide (e.g., Cetrimide B.P.), and benzalkonium chloride.
Suitable zwitterionic detergents may include, but are not limited to, the following: Zwittergent 3-08(n-octyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate), Zwittergent 3-10(n-decyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate), Zwittergent 3-12(n-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate) (Calbiochem, LaJolla, Calif.), and betaine and betaine-like detergents wherein the molecule contains both basic and acidic groups which form an inner salt giving the molecule both cationic and anionic hydrophilic groups (e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082).
Ampholytic and amphoteric detergents can be either cationic or anionic depending on the pH of the solution. An example of an ampholytic detergent that may be suitable in the ear wax solution is N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl betaine. An example of an amphoteric detergent that may be suitable is alkyl dimethylamine betaine (e.g., Empigen B B from Albright and Wilson, Richmond, Va.). Other nonlimiting examples of amphoteric and ampholytic detergents that may be suitable are dodecylbeta-alanine, N-alkyltaurines, N-higher alkylaspartic acids, and the detergents sold under the trade name xe2x80x9cMiranolxe2x80x9d, and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,528,378.
Preferably, the detergent is selected from the category of detergents having a steroid skeleton. Anionic detergents having a steroid skeleton may include, but are not limited to, the following: sodium deoxycholate, sodium cholate, sodium taurocholate, and sodium taurodeoxycholate. Nonionic detergents having a steroid skeleton may include, but are not limited to, the following: N,N-Bis(3-D-gluconamidopropyl)cholamide (e.g., BIGCHAP, Dojindo Molecular Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), N,N-Bis(3-D-gluconamidopropyl)deoxycholamide (e.g., DeoxyBIGCHAP), and digitonin. Zwitterionic detergents having a steroid skeleton may include, but are not limited to, the following:, 3[(3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonic acid (e.g., CHAPS). Other categories of detergents having a steroid skeleton may also be suitable.
More preferably, the detergent having a steroid skeleton is a natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic bile salt. Naturally occurring bile salts are biological detergents synthesized in the liver. The commonly occurring bile acids include cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid, and hyocholic acid. The bile acid can be a primary or secondary bile acid. The bile salts include alkali metal salts of such acids, such as sodium deoxycholate and sodium cholate. Most preferably, the detergent is sodium deoxycholate (xe2x80x9cDOCxe2x80x9d).
It is believed that bile salts such as DOC dissolve lipid bilayers of the ear wax by forming mixed micelles with lipids, and penetrate the monolayer of lipids bound to epidermal cells inside the ear. Approximately one-half of the constituents of ear wax accumulations in the ear are epidermal cells (mostly lipids and proteins); consequently, it is very important to remove these bound lipids to ease ear wax removal. It is also believed that the bile salts surround the hydrophobic parts of membrane bounded protein and move them into solution. By its dual action, the bile salt attaches itself to hydrophobic areas of the ear wax, exposing its hydrophilic tail into solution, and pulls hydrophobic particles such as membrane bounded protein into solution. The bile salt also denatures the protein.
Preferably, the ear wax solution contains from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of a bile salt such as DOC, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%. The ear wax solution acts as an ear wax softening agent at low concentrations of detergent, and an ear wax dissolution agent at higher concentrations of detergent. For example, a 1% concentration of DOC could be used to act as an ear wax softening agent, while a higher concentration of DOC could function as an ear wax dissolution agent.
Other examples of naturally occurring detergents that may be used in the ear wax solution include phosphatides which are surface-active agents, such as lecithin and dialkylglycerylphosphorylcholine.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the ear wax solution contains a plurality of detergents effective to treat the ear wax by a mechanism involving at least one of dissolving the ear wax, softening the ear wax, and reducing the attachment of the ear wax to the ear. In some instances the use of two or more detergents together significantly improves the effectiveness of the ear wax solution. For example, the ear wax solution may contain a mixture of sodium deoxycholate and sodium dodecyl sulphate.
In addition to the detergent, the ear wax solution also includes a solvent for the detergent. Preferably, the solvent is water, a hydrophilic solvent, or a mixture thereof. Examples of hydrophilic solvents include alkylalcohols such as isopropanol, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, secondary butanol, tertbutanol and isobutanol, alkylene glycols such as propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol, ether alcohols such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, propyl cellosolve, butyl cellosolve, methyl carbitol and ethyl carbitol, ether esters such as methyl cellosolve acetate and ethyl cellosolve acetate, dioxane, dimethylformamide, diacetone alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. The percentage of solvent in the solution is the balance after subtracting the percentages of the other ingredients.
Preferably, the ear wax solution also includes an alkaline material effective to make the solution alkaline. An alkaline solution increases the effectiveness of the detergent. Additionally, an alkaline solution produces an expansion of keratinocytes which provides mechanical force to disintegrate ear wax. Preferably, the solution has a pH between about 7 and about 9.5. Any suitable alkaline material can be used to make the solution alkaline. Some examples of alkaline materials include the sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and aluminum salts of phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, citric acid, and certain aluminum/magnesium compounds. Other examples include antacid materials such as aluminum hydroxides, calcium hydroxides, magnesium hydroxides and magnesium oxide. A preferred alkaline material for use in the ear wax solution is disodium phosphate. The alkaline material may function as a buffer in addition to increasing alkalinity. Generally, the amount of alkaline material in the solution is between about 0.1% and about 5% by weight of the solution.
Preferably, the ear wax solution also includes an ionic additive effective to increase the ionic strength of the solution. An increased ionic strength increases the effectiveness of the detergent, for example, by insuring a large aggregation number and a small critical micellization concentration for the detergent. Any suitable ionic additive can be used in the solution. The ionic additive is preferably an alkali metal salt, more preferably an alkali metal salt of a halogen, even more preferably a chloride salt of an alkali material, and most preferably sodium chloride. Non-limiting examples of suitable ionic additives include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium iodide and the like. Generally, the amount of ionic additive in the solution is between about 0.1% and about 5% by weight of the solution. For example, in a preferred embodiment, sodium chloride is added to water in an amount to make a 0.1M sodium chloride solution.
In some embodiments of the invention, a polymer delivery system is added to the ear wax solution to make an improved ear wax formulation. The polymer enhances the treatment of the ear wax by reducing the irritancy of the detergent on the ear canal, and/or by increasing the retention of the formulation in the ear canal and thereby reducing absorption of the formulation into the epidermal tissues of the ear canal. These properties of the polymer allow stronger detergents to be used for ear wax removal. These properties also aid ear wax removal by increasing the ability of the formulation to wet the ear wax and the surface of the ear canal. By reducing the irritancy of the detergent on the ear canal and providing a time release delivery of the detergent, the polymer allows the use of a higher concentration of detergent without irritation of the ear. The polymer also protects and stabilizes the detergent from being broken down by any substances in the ear canal.
A current commercial product used for ear wax removal has a tendency to develop an allergic reaction in the ear. This is not a problem with the ear wax formulation of the invention. With the addition of the polymer, the ear wax formulation can usually be left inside the ear for over 30 minutes if necessary without causing an allergic reaction. The ear wax formulation is also effective to reduce tissue inflammation and exudation in the ear.
Generally, the amount of polymer in the ear wax formulation is between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight of the formulation, and typically between about 0.5% and about 10%. The polymer is usually dispersed throughout the solvent. Preferably, the polymer and other materials are formulated so that the ear wax formulation has a viscosity between about 2500 cps and about 25,000 cps. Preferably, the formulation is clear to allow for better visualization of the impacted ear wax when removing it.
The polymer delivery system can be any polymer, or combination of polymers, capable of better retaining the formulation in the ear canal and thereby reducing absorption of the formulation into the epidermal tissues of the ear canal. The polymers can be water soluble, or non-water soluble, and can come in various lengths to accommodate one""s needs. Some polymers can change from a solution state to solid state dependent upon temperature. Thus, a polymer could be in solid form at room temperature, but in a solution state when heated a few degrees more.
Preferred polymers for use in the polymer delivery system include, but are not limited to, microsponge polymers, polytrap polymers, N,O-carboxymethyl-chitosan (xe2x80x9cNOCCxe2x80x9d), polyolprepolymers, and chitosan polymers. Microsponge polymers consist of polymeric beads having a network of pores. One such microsponge polymer is available commercially from Advanced Polymer Systems, Redwood City, Calif. The microsponge polymer is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,825 to Won, issued Sep. 1, 1987, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,675 to Won, issued Sep. 8, 1992 (both of which are incorporated by reference herein).
Polytrap polymers are highly cross-linked polymethacrylate copolymers. Such a polymer is manufactured by Dow Coming Corporation, Midland, Mich., and sold under the trademark Polytrap. It is powder having particles capable of absorbing high levels of lipophilic liquids and some hydrophilic liquids. The powder structure consists of a lattice of unit particles less than one micron that are fused into agglomerates of 20 to 100 microns, and the agglomerates are loosely clustered into macro-particles or aggregates of about 200 to about 1200 micron size. Advanced Polymer Systems also sells a Polytrap System which can be used in the invention.
NOCC is a chitosan derivative having carboxymethyl substituents on some of both the amino and primary hydroxyl sites of the glucosamine units of the chitosan structure. One such polymer is available commercially from Chitogenics, Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This polymer is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,995 to Hayes, issued Oct. 28, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,658 to Elson, issued Oct. 21, 1997, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,988 to Elson, issued Mar. 30, 1999 (all of which are incorporated by reference herein).
Polyolprepolymer is a mixture of liquid hydroxyl terminated polymers and polyethylene glycol. One such polymer, Polyolprepolymer-2, is available commercially from Barnet Products, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Chitosan is deacetylated chitin, or poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. It is available commercially from many sources, such as Protan Laboratories Inc., Redmond, Wash. As used herein, xe2x80x9cchitosanxe2x80x9d includes chitosan, inorganic or organic salts of chitosan, and any chemically modified forms of chitosan or chitosan derivatives. This polymer is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,964 to Noel, issued Aug. 25, 1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,166 to Illum, issued Apr. 28, 1998 (both of which are incorporated by reference herein). Other types of polymers can also be used in the invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ear wax solution includes one or more materials that enhance miscelle formation by the detergent. The formation of miscelles by the detergent optimizes the effectiveness of the ear wax solution. Any suitable material(s) can be used to enhance miscelle formation. In some embodiments, the materials are alkaline materials such as alkaline buffers, ionic additives and/or polymers as described above. The ear wax solution may also include one or more additives (e.g., polymers or alcohols) to increase patient comfort.
The ear wax solution, or the ear wax formulation with the polymer delivery system, can also include a topical therapeutic agent for the treatment of the ear. Some nonlimiting examples of therapeutic agents are anti-infectives, antiinflammatory agents, analgesics, and anesthetics. When the therapeutic agent is used in an ear wax formulation containing a polymer, the polymer typically enhances the formulation by either reducing side effects of the therapeutic agent, increasing the therapeutic efficacy of the therapeutic agent, or improving the stability of the formulation.
The ear wax solution of the invention can be prepared in any suitable manner. Typically, the solution is prepared by adding the ionic additive to the solvent in a desired concentration and mixing the solution, and then adding the desired amounts of alkaline material and detergent and further mixing the solution until the materials are dissolved. The ear wax formulation containing the polymer can also be prepared in any suitable manner. Typically, the formulation is prepared by initially mixing the detergent with the polymer so that it is incorporated into the polymer, and then adding the detergent/polymer to a solution prepared as described above.
In another embodiment of the method for removing ear wax, the ear is washed with a first ear wax solution to loosen the ear wax, and then a second ear wax solution is used to remove the ear wax. In this method, the first ear wax solution is inserted into the ear in contact with the ear wax. The first ear wax solution comprises: (a) a first detergent effective to loosen the ear wax, and (b) a solvent for the first detergent. The first ear wax solution is maintained in contact with the ear wax for a time sufficient to loosen the ear wax, then removed from the ear. The second ear wax solution is inserted into the ear in contact with the loosened ear wax. The second ear wax solution comprises: (a) a second detergent effective to remove the ear wax, the second detergent being different from the first detergent, and (b) a solvent for the second detergent. The second ear wax solution is maintained in contact with the ear wax for a time sufficient to enable the removal of the ear wax. Finally, the second ear wax solution and the ear wax are removed from the ear.


The present invention relates to a multichip semiconductor device using multiple chips.
The present invention also relates to a chip for a multichip semiconductor device and a method of manufacture thereof.
Recent computers and communication equipment use for their important section a large-scale integrated circuit (chip) which has a great number of electronic components, such as transistors, resistors, etc., integrated into a semiconductor substrate. Thus, the performance of the entire equipment depends largely on the performance of the chip.
On the other hand, so-called multichip semiconductor devices have proposed, each having a plurality of chips to improve the whole performance of the equipment. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are sectional views of conventional multichip semiconductor devices.
FIG. 1 shows a multichip semiconductor device of a type in which a plurality of chips 82 are placed side by side on a multilayered interconnection substrate 81. Reference numeral 83 denotes a solder bump.
FIG. 2 shows a multichip semiconductor device of a type in which chips are connected together with their major surfaces opposed to each other. FIG. 3 shows a multichip semiconductor device of a type in which a plurality of chips 82 are stacked using stacking plates 84.
However, these conventional multichip semiconductor devices have the following problems.
In the multichip semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1, the plane area of the device increases because the chips 82 are arranged in the same plane.
The conventional semiconductor device of FIG. 2 is free of the problem with the device of FIG. 1 that the plane area of the device increases. This is because the chips 82 are stacked one above another. However, the device of FIG. 2 has a problem that the number of chips that can be stacked is limited to two. In addition, it is difficult to electrically test each chip.
The conventional semiconductor device of FIG. 3 does not suffer from the problems with the conventional semiconductor devices of FIGS. 1 and 2. However, its structure is complex, its thickness is great, and its manufacturing cost is high. This is because a stacking plate 84 need to be provided between any two adjacent two chip.


Environmental contamination with radioactive materials is a common problem. The problem may occur as a result of mining operations, such as for uranium, or contamination due to operation of nuclear facilities with inadequate environmental controls, or from the disposal of radioactive wastes. Alternatively, contamination may occur as a result of dispersion of uranium billets which have been used as a high density material in military or civil applications as a result of warfare or civil accident.
Mining operations have established practical and economic methods for the economic recovery of some radioactive elements from contaminated materials. The objective of mining, however, is usually the economic recovery of materials and secondary waste is rarely the major issue. In environmental clean-up, the economic objective is to complete effective clean-up with minimum secondary waste at minimum cost, and the value of recovered radioactive substances is of secondary importance. Techniques and chemicals which would not be economical or appropriate for mining applications may become practical for environmental clean-up.
It is well established that radioactive elements can be recovered from environmental materials by mechanically washing with water with or without surface active additives. However, such procedures are generally limited to the mechanical separation of solids, and will not remove contaminants that are chemically bound to the solid phase.
There are established chemical methods for dissolving insoluble radioactive contaminants in concentrated solvents, such as strong acids, in a process known as acid leaching. Such procedures are effective, but are disadvantageous if the spent concentrated solution ultimately becomes waste. In many cases, the concentrated solvents themselves are hazardous in addition to containing the radioactive contaminant that the process is designed to concentrate. The acid leaching and other processes using concentrated solvents to dissolve the radioactive contaminant have the further disadvantage of also dissolving other contaminants that the process was not designed to remove, such as nonradioactive metals.
In the decontamination of internal surfaces of nuclear reactor circuits, early processes involved washing with concentrated chemical solutions to dissolve contaminants to yield a concentrated solution containing the contamination. The processing of these waste solutions was found to be difficult and inconvenient and resulted in them becoming waste and requiring disposal. The technology has now progressed to allow the recovery of radioactivity, typically by ion exchange, in a dilute acidic recirculating system. These solutions, being dilute and acidic, do not contain carbonate and are not particularly useful or appropriate for dissolving actinide elements because they do not form soluble complexes with the actinide elements.
In reactor decontamination processes, it has been established that certain organic reagents can be used to dissolve contamination and yield it to an ion exchange resin in a recirculating process in such a way that the organic reagent is continuously re-used. Examples of solutions used in acidic reactor decontamination processes are vanadous formate, picolinic acid and sodium hydroxide. Other processes typically use mixtures of citric acid and
oxalic acid. These reactor decontaminating solutions have the disadvantage of not being capable of being used in a single one time application to dissolve actinides, radium, and certain fission products, such as technetium.
Previous reactor decontaminating solutions do not contain carbonate and are acidic, dissolving the iron oxides of the radioactive elements commonly found in contaminated reactor circuits. This nonselective metal dissolving capacity is a disadvantage of the acidic solutions and makes them unsuitable for decontamination of material such as soil that contains iron and other metals that are not intended to be recovered. Another disadvantage of acidic solutions is that materials such as concrete or limestone are subject to damage or dissolution in an acidic medium. Also, in dealing with previously known washing solutions for treating soil, these solutions contain too many nonselectively dissolved contaminants preventing subjection of the solution to recovery of contaminants and recirculation of the solution to accomplish further decontamination.
It has been established that uranium and transuranic radioactive elements can be dissolved in concentrated acidic (pH<1) chemical systems. The acidity poses difficulties as discussed above. Uranium and sometimes thorium are recovered in mining operations in a concentrated basic medium containing carbonate. The use of concentrated solutions is motivated by the need to dissolve materials at a rate economic for mining operations, and such solutions are not particularly suitable where avoidance of secondary waste is of primary concern. There are also references that suggest that uranium and plutonium can be dissolved in a dilute basic solution containing carbonate, citrate (as a chelating agent) and an oxidizing or reducing agent. Such solutions are not, however, suitable for the recovery of radium/barium sulfate because they do not form soluble complexes from barium sulfate.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image holding member for electrophotography sensitive to electromagnetic waves such as light (here referred to a light in a broad sense including ultraviolet ray, visible light, infrared ray, X-ray, .gamma.-ray and the like).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, as photoconductive materials constructing image holding members for electrophotography, there have been known generally inorganic photoconductive materials such as Se, Cds, ZnO and the like and organic photoconductive materials (hereinafter referred to as "OPC") such as PVK (polyvinylcarbazole), TNF (tetranitrofluorenone) and the like. However, at present the known photoconductive materials can not simultaneously satisfy the characteristics required for image holding members for electrophotography such as high sensitivity, good S/N ratio (photo-current/dark current), wide range absorption spectrum, high light response, high dark resistance, stability upon repeated use and the like.
There have been recently proposed various practical OPC type image holding members since they are of low cost and do not cause any environmental pollution, and as a result of improvement, they have now excellent electrophotographic fundamental characteristics such as latent image formation, photosensitivity and the like which there is much room for improvement as to stability upon repeated use such as resistance to mechanical, optical or electrical external action. In particular, with respect to mechanical action, the surface of the OPC type image holding member is easily scratched even with a slight action force such as, for example, the action force of a blade used for cleaning the remaining toner (such cleaning is essential to electrophotographic processes) since the surface of the image holding member is made of an organic material. While the member is repeatedly used, the toner attaches to the scratched portions and therefore, the copied images become unclear gradually. Thus, the image holding member can be used only a limited number of times.
In order to supplement the mechanical strength of the OPC image holding member, there is proposed to form a surface protective layer of various kinds, for example, laminating with an organic material layer having a higher hardness by coating, depositing an inorganic layer by means of vacuum vapor deposition, laminating with a material capable of being surface-hardened by applying a thermal hysteresis, and the like.
However, these methods can give a sufficient function of a protective layer, but there are caused side effects undesirable for fundamental characteristics of electrophotography such as lowering of resolution, lowering of image quality, change of characteristics during using for a long time and the like, and when it is tried to make the characteristics compatible, all the characteristics often become insufficient resulting in impractical image holding members.
As mentioned above, any satisfactory results are not obtained. This results from the fact that there are very few materials which are excellent in mechanical strength and satisfy the function of the most surface layer of electrophotographic image holding members with respect to electric and optical characteristics. Even if there are obtained the above-mentioned desirable materials, there is not easily available a means suitable for laminating the material to form freely a thin and uniform layer without damaging the photoconductive layer. This is one of the reasons retarding solving the above problems.
Among the various methods proposed heretofore, the most popular method is a coating method in which a constant viscosity of a coating slurry is required so as to coat uniformly, but when a high viscosity is employed, the resulting coated layer is apt to be thick. Most of the materials having high hardness are non-photoconductive so that they retard photoconductive action and the image quality is lowered when the protective layer is unnecessarily thick.
Alternatively, for example, when an inorganic thin film such as SiO.sub.2 and the like is produced by means of a vacuum vapor deposition, the substrate temperature should be elevated to some extent to produce a good quality film, but OPC layers are usually weak to heat and are subjected to thermal damage upon forming a protective layer. In addition, vacuum vapor deposition, sputtering and the like have a directivity with respect to film forming atoms incident upon the substrate surface so that uniform and large area can be disadvantageously obtained with difficulty.