Author: claimsbot

1. A thermally protected RFID tag comprising:
an RFID tag; and
a thermally-protective coating sufficient to protect the RFID tag from thermal damage, wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises reinforced carbon-carbon resin, carbon fiber reinforcement in a graphite matrix, polyphenylene ether and olefin resin blend, polyphenylene oxide and polystyrene alloy resin, polyphenylene ether and polypropylene alloy resin or a vinyl ester resin, wherein the vinyl ester resin comprises aromatic ethers and oligoethers having vinyl aromatic and methacrylate end groups that are capable of crosslinking and polycyclization.
2. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises an external non-heat conductive material.
3. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises a first layer comprising silica glass fibers and a second layer adjacent to the first layer comprising modified polyphenylene ether (PPE)olefin resin blend, polyphenylene oxide and polystyrene alloy resin, polyphenylene ether and polypropylene alloy resin, vinyl ester resin comprising aromatic ethers and oligoethers having vinyl aromatic and methacrylate end groups that are capable of crosslinking and polycyclization, reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) resin, or carbon fiber reinforcement in a graphite matrix phenolic resin, ceramic enamel, glass enamel, vermiculite enamel, silicate based fiber, cloth resin impregnated
4. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the RFID tag comprises a battery, wherein the battery comprises at least a partial source of power for the RFID tag circuitry and antenna.
5. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the RFID tag comprises low-frequency identification, high-frequency identification, or ultra-high frequency identification.
6. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises a non-heat conductive material overlaying a silica glass fiber layer.
7. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the RFID tag is protected by the thermally protective coating to a temperature of about 200\xb0 C.
8. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the RFID tag is protected by the thermally protective coating to a temperature of about 300\xb0 C.
9. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 8, wherein the RFID tag is protected by the thermally protective coating to a temperature of about 900\xb0 C.
10. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the RFID tag is protected by the thermally protective coating to a temperature of about 1000\xb0 C.
11. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is protected by the thermally protective coating to a temperature of about 1100\xb0 C.
12. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 11, wherein the RFID tag is protected by the thermally protective coating to a temperature of about 1200\xb0 C.
13. The thermally protected RFID tag of claim 12, wherein the RFID tag is protected by the thermally protective coating to a temperature of about 1660\xb0 C.
14. A method of manufacturing an article having an embedded RFID tag, comprising:
heating a precursor material from which an article of manufacture will be formed to form a molten or semi-molten material;
inserting a thermally-coated RFID tag into the molten or semi-molten precursor material; and
cooling the molten or semi-molten precursor material to form the article of manufacture, wherein the thermally-coated RFID tag comprises:
an RFID tag; and
a thermally-protective coating sufficient to protect the RFID tag from thermal damage, wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) resin or a vinyl ester resin, wherein the vinyl ester resin comprises aromatic ethers and oligoethers having vinyl aromatic and methacrylate end groups that are capable of crosslinking and polycyclization.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the precursor material comprises plastic, composite, metal or combinations thereof.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the article of manufacture comprises a fabricated, molded, cast, or extruded component.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the article of manufacture comprises a precious metal bar, a precious metal round, a piece of furniture, electronic equipment, a weapon, a component of a weapon, ammunition, medical devices, cargo containers, vehicle components, rail car components, construction materials, or military ordinance.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the RFID tag is a low-frequency RFID tag, a high-frequency RFID tag, or an ultra-high frequency RFID tag.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the RFID tag comprises a battery, wherein the battery comprises at least a partial source of power for the RFID tag circuitry and antenna.
20. A method of tracking an article, comprising:
detecting by a radio signal receiver emission of a radio frequency signal from an RFID tag that is representative of a unique identification signal;
interrogating a database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of stored searchable files, wherein each file comprises a unique identification signal, wherein each unique identification signal corresponds to a unique article;
searching the stored files for a unique identification signal that compares favorably to the detected radio frequency signal; and
identifying the unique article corresponding to the unique identification signal that compares favorably to the detected radio frequency signal,
wherein the article is manufactured by the process comprising:
heating a precursor material from which the article will be formed to form a molten or semi-molten material;
inserting a thermally-coated RFID tag into the molten or semi-molten precursor material; and
cooling the molten or semi-molten precursor material to form the article, wherein the thermally-coated RFID tag comprises:
an RFID tag; and
a thermally-protective coating sufficient to protect the RFID tag from thermal damage,
wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) resin or a vinyl ester resin, wherein the vinyl ester resin comprises aromatic ethers and oligoethers having vinyl aromatic and methacrylate end groups that are capable of crosslinking and polycyclization.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the article comprises a precious metal bar, a precious metal round, a piece of furniture, electronic equipment, a weapon, a component of a weapon, ammunition, medical devices, cargo containers, vehicle components, rail car components, construction materials, or military ordinance.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the unique identification signal is encrypted.
23. A method of tracking an article, comprising:
detecting by a radio signal receiver emission of a radio frequency signal from an RFID tag representative of data unique to the article;
wherein the article is manufactured by the process comprising:
heating a precursor material from which the article will be formed to form a molten or semi-molten material;
inserting a thermally-coated RFID tag into the molten or semi-molten precursor material; and
cooling the molten or semi-molten precursor material to form the article, wherein the thermally-coated RFID tag comprises:
an RFID tag; and
a thermally-protective coating sufficient to protect the RFID tag from thermal damage,
wherein the thermally-protective coating comprises reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) resin or a vinyl ester resin, wherein the vinyl ester resin comprises aromatic ethers and oligoethers having vinyl aromatic and methacrylate end groups that are capable of crosslinking and polycyclization.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the article comprises a precious metal bar, a precious metal round, a piece of furniture, electronic equipment, a weapon, a component of a weapon, ammunition, medical devices, cargo containers, vehicle components, rail car components, construction materials, or military ordinance.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the unique identification signal is encrypted.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

We claim:

1. In a hydrogel formed from the polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising silicone prepolymers having the generic formula:
11
wherein;
A is an activated unsaturated radical;
A is either an activated unsaturated radical or an alkyl group;
R1-R10 are independently an alkyl, fluoroalkyl, alcohol, ether, or fluoroether group having 1-10 carbons, or an aromatic group having 6-18 carbons;
m, n, and p are independently 0 to 200, mnp being from about 15 to 200;
a is 1 to 10; and
b is 0 to 10,
wherein the silicone prepolymer is prepared by the reaction of a cyclic siloxane (D) and a dimethacrylate disiloxane (M2) in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement comprising adding at least one disiloxane (T2) having the formula:
12
wherein R11-R16 are independently an alkyl group having 1-5 carbons, to the reaction mixture used to form the silicone prepolymer.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein crosslinking density of said hydrogel decreases as the amount of said T2 increases.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein dimethacrylate disiloxane (M2) is represented-by the formula:
13
4. The method of claim 1, wherein mnp of said polysiloxane prepolymer is within a range of about 25 to 50.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein mnp of said polysiloxane prepolymer is about 25.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said polysiloxane prepolymer is endcapped with 1 to 70 mole % trimethylsilyl.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said prepolymer is endcapped within the range of 25 to 50 mole % trimethylsilyl.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said prepolymer is endcapped within the range of 40 to 50 mole % trimethylsilyl.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein mnp of said polysiloxane prepolymer is about 25 and endcapped with about 50 mole % trimethylsilyl.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein D is octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein D is 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-disila-2-oxacyclopentane.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein D is hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said catalyst is trifluoromethane sulfonic acid.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein T2 is hexamethyl disiloxane.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein said monomer mixture further comprises a hydrophilic monomer.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is an acrylic-containing monomer.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is N,N-dimethyl acrylamide.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is a vinyl-containing monomer.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is N-vinyl pyrrolidone.
20. The method of claim 15, still further comprising a monofunctional, ethylenically unsaturated silicone-containing monomer.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said monofunctional, ethylenically unsaturated silicone-containing monomer is represented by the formula:
14
wherein:
X denotes COO, CONR4, OCOO, or OCONR4 where each where R4 is independently H or lower alkyl; R3 denotes hydrogen or methyl; h is 1 to 10; and each R2 independently denotes a lower alkyl radical, a phenyl radical or a radical of the formula
Si(R5)3
wherein each R5 is independently a lower alkyl radical or a phenyl radical.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein said monomer mixture further comprises a UV initiator.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said UV initiator is Darocur 1173.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein said monomer mixture further comprises a diluent.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said diluent is hexanol.
26. A silicone-containing, hydrogel formed from the polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising:
(a) polysiloxane prepolymers represented by the formula:
15
wherein;
A is an acitvated unsaturated radical;
A is either an activated unsaturated radical or an alkyl group;
R1-R10 are independently an alkyl, fluoroalkyl, alcohol, ether, or fluoroether group having 1-10 carbons, or an aromatic group having 6-18 carbons;
m, n, and p are independently 0 to 200, mnp being from about 23 to 200;
a is 1 to 10; and
b is 0 to 10

wherein the silicone prepolymer is prepared by the reaction of dimethacrylate disiloxane (M2) and cyclic siloxane (D) in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement comprising adding at least one disiloxane (T2) having the formula:
16
wherein R11-R16 are independently an alkyl group having 1-5 carbons, to the reaction mixture used to form the silicone prepolymer;
(b) a hydrophilic monomer; and
(c) a monofunctional, ethylenically unsaturated silicone-containing monomer.
27. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein mnp of said polysiloxane prepolymer is within the range of 25 to 50.
28. The hydrogel of claim 27, wherein mnp of said polysiloxane prepolymer is about 25.
29. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein said polysiloxane prepolymer is endcapped within the range of 1 to 70 mole % trimethylsilyl.
30. The hydrogel of claim 29, wherein said prepolymer is endcapped within the range of 25 to 50 mole % trimethylsilyl.
31. The hydrogel of claim 30, wherein said prepolymer is endcapped within the range of 40 to 50 mole % trimethylsilyl.
32. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein mnp of said polysiloxane prepolymer is about 25 and endcapped with about 50 mole % trimethylsilyl.
33. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein T2 is hexamethyl disiloxane.
34. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is an acrylic-containing monomer.
35. The hydrogel of claim 34, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is N,N-dimethyl acrylamide.
36. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is a vinyl-containing monomer.
37. The hydrogel of claim 36, wherein said hydrophilic monomer is N-vinyl pyrrolidone.
38. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein said monofunctional, ethylenically unsaturated silicone-containing monomer is represented by the formula:
17
wherein:
X denotes COO, CONR4, OCOO, or OCONR4 where each where R4 is independently H or lower alkyl; R3 denotes hydrogen or methyl; h is 1 to 10; and each R2 independently denotes a lower alkyl radical, a phenyl radical or a radical of the formula
Si(R5)3
wherein each R5 is independently a lower alkyl radical or a phenyl radical.
39. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein the monomer mixture further comprises a UV initiator.
40. The hydrogel of claim 39, wherein said UV initiator is Darocur 1173.
41. The hydrogel of claim 26, wherein the monomer mixture further comprises a diluent.
42. The hydrogel of claim 41, wherein the diluent is hexanol.
43. A contact lens comprising the hydrogel of claim 26.
44. An intraocular lens comprising the hydrogel of claim 26.

1. An electronic appliance equipped with a network connection function, the electronic appliance comprising:
reception means for receiving data transmitted through a communication path of a network;
temporary storage means for temporarily storing the data received by said reception means;
communication means for communicating with an external appliance existing on the network;
attribute information acquisition means for acquiring attribute information of the external appliance;
judging means for judging whether to communicate with the external appliance based on the attribute information of the external appliance;
address recording means for recording an address of the external appliance on the network in accordance with an outcome of judgment of the judging means; and
data selection control means for rejecting data from an external appliance with which communication is not required but storing data from an external appliance with which communication is required in the temporary storage means by referring to the address recording means.
2. The electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the address recording means records the address on the network of each external appliance with which communication is not required.
3. The electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the address recording means records the address on the network of each external appliance with which communication is required.
4. The electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the address on the network is a unique physical address assigned to the external appliance.
5. The electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein:
the attribute information includes information on a service that the external appliance provides; and
the judging means judges that communication with the external appliance is not required if the external appliance does not provides any service to the electronic appliance.
6. The electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the data selection control means is mounted in a piece of hardware that operates as an interface between the electronic appliance and the communication path of the network.
7. An electronic appliance equipped with a network connection function, the electronic appliance comprising:
a reception section that receives data transmitted through a communication path of a network;
a temporary storage section that temporarily stores the data received by said reception section;
a communication section that communicates with an external appliance existing on the network;
an attribute information acquisition section that acquires attribute information of the external appliance;
a judging section that judges whether to communicate with the external appliance based on the attribute information of the external appliance;
an address recording section that records an address of the external appliance on the network in accordance with an outcome of judgment of the judging section; and
a data selection control section that rejects data from an external appliance with which communication is not required but stores the data from an external appliance with which communication is required in the temporary storage section by referring to the appliance address recording section.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A vehicle braking assist device for a host vehicle comprising:
a risk potential computing device that computes a risk potential of the host vehicle with respect to an obstacle in the travelling direction of the host vehicle
based on a computed arrival time or distance to the obstacle;
a sensor that detects an operation state of an accelerator;
a braking force application device; and
a controller that controls the braking force assist device to:
(1) apply a breaking force when the risk potential exceeds a first threshold, but not a second threshold, unless the operation state of the accelerator exceeds a prescribed value, thus overriding the breaking assist device; and
(2) apply a breaking force irrespective of the operation state of the accelerator when the risk potential exceeds the second threshold that is greater than the first threshold.
2. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 1, further comprising:
an external disturbance determining part that determines an external disturbance that influences braking applied on the host vehicle; and
a braking force instruction value computing part that corrects the braking applied on the host vehicle by increasing at least one of the first braking force and the second braking force applied by the braking force application device when a level of suppression of braking applied on the host vehicle increases due to the external disturbance.
3. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 1, further comprising:
an accelerator reactive force application device that applies an accelerator reactive force when the risk potential is higher than a predetermined third threshold.
4. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 3 wherein the risk potential represented by the third threshold is lower than the risk potential represented by the first threshold.
5. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 3, further comprising:
an external disturbance determining part that determines an external disturbance that influences braking applied on the host vehicle; and
a braking force instruction value computing part that corrects the braking applied on the host vehicle by decreasing the third threshold when a level of suppression of braking applied on the host vehicle increases due to the external disturbance.
6. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 3, further comprising:
an external disturbance determining part that determines an external disturbance that influences braking applied on the host vehicle; and
a braking force instruction value computing part that corrects the braking applied on the host vehicle by increasing the accelerator reactive force applied by the accelerator reactive force applying device when a level of suppression of braking applied on the host vehicle increases due to the external disturbance.
7. The vehicle braking assist device of claims 1, wherein the risk potential computing device computes a proximity of the host vehicle to the obstacle as a value representing the risk potential, and the braking force application device determines whether the risk potential is higher than one or both of the first threshold and the second threshold based on the computed proximity.
8. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 7, wherein the risk potential computing part computes the proximity based on the relative distance between the host vehicle and the obstacle, using information comprising at least one of: a relative speed of the host vehicle with respect to the obstacle, and a relative accelerationdeceleration of the host vehicle with respect to the obstacle.
9. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 7, wherein the risk potential computing part computes the expected arrival time determined for the host vehicle to reach the position of the obstacle as the proximity using information comprising at least one of: a relative speed of the host vehicle with respect to the obstacle, and a relative accelerationdeceleration of the host vehicle with respect to the obstacle.
10. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 7, further comprising:
picture taking means that takes pictures in the travelling direction of the host vehicle;
wherein the risk potential computing part computes the proximity based on images of the obstacle in the pictures taken by the picture taking means.
11. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 1, further comprising:
an external disturbance determining part that determines an external disturbance that influences braking applied on the host vehicle; and
a braking force instruction value computing part that corrects the braking applied on the host vehicle by decreasing at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold when a level of suppression of braking applied on the host vehicle increases due to the external disturbance.
12. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 11, wherein the external disturbance determined by the external disturbance determining part is an external disturbance caused by at least one of a braking torque transmission rate when a braking force is applied on the vehicle, a road surface frictional coefficient, and a vehicle weight of the host vehicle.
13. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 11, wherein the external disturbance determined by the external disturbance determining part is an external disturbance caused by at least one of a road slope and an air drag.
14. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 11, wherein:
the external disturbance determining part determines an external disturbance when the first braking force is applied by the braking force application device; and
the braking force instruction value computing part corrects at least one of the second threshold and the first braking force applied by the braking force application device based on the external disturbance.
15. The vehicle braking assist device of claim 14, further comprising:
a wheel velocity sensor that detects a wheel velocity of the host vehicle; and
an accelerationdeceleration computing part that computes the accelerationdeceleration of the host vehicle based on the wheel velocity of the host vehicle;
wherein the external disturbance determining part determines the external disturbance based on the accelerationdeceleration of the host vehicle and the first braking force applied by the braking force application device.
16. A method of assisting vehicle braking of a host vehicle comprising:
detecting a risk potential of the host vehicle with respect to an obstacle in a travelling direction of the host vehicle
based on a computed arrival time or distance to the obstacle;
detecting an operating state of an accelerator of the host vehicle; and
(1) applying a breaking force when the risk potential exceeds a first threshold, but not a second threshold, unless the operation state of the accelerator exceeds a prescribed value, thus overriding a breaking assist device; and
(2) applying a breaking force irrespective of the operation state of the accelerator when the risk potential exceeds the second threshold that is greater than the first threshold.
17. A vehicle braking assist device for a host vehicle comprising:
risk potential computing means that computes a risk potential of the host vehicle with respect to an obstacle in the travelling direction of the host vehicle
based on a computed arrival time or distance to the obstacle;
accelerator detecting means that detects an operation state of an accelerator;
braking force application means; and
a controller that controls the braking force assist device to:
(1) apply a breaking force when the risk potential exceeds a first threshold, but not a second threshold, unless the operation state of the accelerator exceeds a prescribed value, thus overriding the breaking assist device; and
(2) apply a breaking force irrespective of the operation state of the accelerator when the risk potential exceeds the second threshold that is greater than the first threshold.