All The Claims

1. A thermosetting resin composition comprising a polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer which includes a polyphenylene ether (A) and a butadiene polymer, characterized in that the thermosetting resin composition is obtained by a process for manufacture of the thermosetting resin composition wherein:
the butadiene polymer has a crosslinked structure;
the process has a step (1) in which a butadiene polymer (B) crosslinks with a crosslinking agent (C) (excluding the butadiene polymer (B)) in the presence of the polyphenylene ether (A) in a medium to obtain the polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer;
a number average molecular weight of the polyphenylene ether (A) is in a range of 7,000 to 30,000;
the butadiene polymer (B) molecule contains 40% or more of a 1,2-butadiene unit having a 1,2-vinyl group in a side chain; and
the butadiene polymer (B) is not a modified polybutadiene in which the 1,2-vinyl group in the side chain, or one or both of the terminals in the molecule, is chemically modified to be converted to epoxy, glycol, phenol, maleic acid, (meth)acryl, or urethane, and
with the proviso that excluded from the polyphenylene ether (A) is a polyphenylene ether which is a modified phenol product so obtained by redistribution reaction of a polyphenylene ether resin having a number average molecular weight of 10,000-30,000 with a phenolic compound in the presence of a reaction initiator that the number average molecular weight of the product becomes 5 to 70% of that of the polyphenylene ether resin.
2. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the butadiene polymer (B) comprises:
(j) a \u2014CH2\u2014CH\u2550CH\u2014CH2\u2014 unit and
(k) a \u2014CH2\u2014CH(CH\u2550CH2)\u2014 unit,

with a ratio of j:k being 60 to 5:40 to 95; and
the crosslinking agent (C) is a compound having one or more ethylenically unsaturated double bonds in a molecule.
3. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the crosslinking agent (C) contains at least one maleimide compound represented by the formula (1):
wherein R1 is an aliphatic or aromatic organic group having a valence of m; Xa and Xb, which may be identical or different from each other, each is a monovalent atom or organic group selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and an aliphatic organic group; and m represents an integer of 1 or greater.
4. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the crosslinking agent (C) is at least one maleimide compound selected from the group consisting of N-phenylmaleimide, N-(2-methylphenyl)maleimide, N-(4-methylphenyl)maleimide, N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)maleimide, N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)maleimide, N-(2-methoxyphenyl)maleimide, N-benzylmaleimide, N-dodecylmaleimide, N-isopropylmaleimide and N-cyclohexylmaleimide.
5. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the crosslinking agent (C) is at least one vinyl compound including divinylbiphenyl.
6. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
a mixing proportion of the polyphenylene ether (A) is in a range of 2 to 200 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the butadiene polymer (B) and the crosslinking agent (C), and a mixing proportion of the crosslinking agent (C) is in a range of 2 to 200 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the butadiene polymer (B).
7. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
a conversion rate of the crosslinking agent (C) falls in the range of 5 to 100% in the step (1).
8. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
a radical reaction initiator (D) is further incorporated in the step (1) and then the butadiene polymer (B) crosslinks with the crosslinking agent (C).
9. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the process further comprises a step (2) in which the polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer obtained in the step (1) is incorporated with a radical reaction initiator (D).
10. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the process further comprises a step (2) in which the polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer obtained in the step (1) is incorporated with a compound (E) of a crosslinkable monomer or crosslinkable polymer which contains one or more groups having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond in a molecule.
11. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the process further comprises a step (2) in which the polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer obtained in the step (1) is incorporated with a compound (E) of a crosslinkable monomer or crosslinkable polymer which is at least one selected from the group consisting of a butadiene polymer (B-1), maleimide compounds and styrene-butadiene copolymers; and
the butadiene polymer (B-1) is not a modified polybutadiene in which the 1,2-vinyl group in the side chain, or one or both of the terminals in the molecule, is chemically modified to be converted to epoxy, glycol, phenol, maleic acid, (meth)acryl, or urethane.
12. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the process further comprises a step (2) in which the polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer obtained in the step (1) is incorporated with a compound (F) of at least one of a bromine-based flame retardant and a phosphorus-based flame retardant.
13. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein:
the process further comprises a step (2) in which the polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer obtained in the step (1) is incorporated with inorganic filler (G).
14. A resin varnish for printed circuit boards, obtained by dissolving or dispersing the thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1 in a solvent.
15. A prepreg obtained by impregnating the resin varnish for printed circuit boards according to claim 14 into a substrate, and then drying the impregnated substrate.
16. A metal clad laminated board obtained by stacking one or more sheets of the prepreg for printed circuit boards according to claim 15, disposing metal foil on one side or both sides of the stacked prepreg, and pressing them together while heating.
17. The thermosetting resin composition according to claim 1, wherein said step (1) is a preliminary reaction step in which the butadiene polymer (B) reacts with the crosslinking agent (C) so as to obtain said polyphenylene ether-modified butadiene prepolymer, in an uncured state before complete curing, having mutual entanglement of molecular chains of the polyphenylene ether (A) and crosslinking product between the butadiene polymer (B) and the crosslinking agent (C).

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 method of controlling the fragmentation of ions during mass spectral analysis, comprising:
(i) at a starting collision energy provided within a mass spectrometer, fragmenting at least one of a plurality of precursor ions generated from a sample to produce a plurality of daughter ion fragments;
(ii) determining an ion current associated with unfragmented precursor ions in the mass spectrometer;
(iii) determining an ion current associated with the daughter ion fragments in the mass spectrometer;
(iv) determining the ratio of the current associated with the unfragmented precursor ions to the current associated with the daughter ion fragments; and
(v) adjusting the collision energy provided in the mass spectrometer at (i) to move the ratio toward a predetermined range or value.
2) The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating (i)-(v), as necessary, to bring the ratio into the predetermined range.
3) The method according to claim 1, wherein the collision energy is adjusted by an amount determined using the relation:
\u0394CE=m*ln(ion current ratio)+B,

where \u0394CE is the change by which the collision energy is adjusted; and m and B are constants derived through at least one of theoretical analysis and experimentation.
4) The method according to claim 3, wherein the collision energy is adjusted by an amount determined using the relation:
\u0394CE=4.5*ln(ion current ratio)+13.5 (eV)
5) A system useful for controlling the fragmentation of ions during mass spectral analysis, the system comprising a controller adapted to:
(i) at a starting collision energy provided within a mass spectrometer, fragment at least one of a plurality of precursor ions generated from a sample to produce a plurality of daughter ion fragments;
(ii) determine an ion current associated with unfragmented precursor ions in the mass spectrometer;
(iii) determine an ion current associated with the daughter ion fragments in the mass spectrometer;
(iv) determine the ratio of the current associated with the unfragmented precursor ions to the current associated with the daughter ion fragments; and
(v) adjust the collision energy provided in the mass spectrometer at (i) to move the ratio toward a predetermined range or value.
6) The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is adapted to repeat (i)-(v), as necessary, to bring the ratio into the predetermined range.
7) The system of claim 5, wherein the collision energy is adjusted by an amount determined using the relation:
\u0394CE=m*ln(ion current ratio)+B,

where \u0394CE is the change by which the collision energy is adjusted; and m and B are constants derived through at least one of theoretical analysis and experimentation.
8) The system of claim 7, wherein the collision energy is adjusted by an amount determined using the relation:
\u0394CE=4.5*ln(ion current ratio)+13.5 (eV)
9) A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a mass spectrometer to:
(i) at a starting collision energy provided within a mass spectrometer, fragment at least one of a plurality of precursor ions generated from a sample to produce a plurality of daughter ion fragments;
(ii) determine an ion current associated with unfragmented precursor ions in the mass spectrometer;
(iii) determine an ion current associated with the daughter ion fragments in the mass spectrometer;
(iv) determine the ratio of the current associated with the unfragmented precursor ions to the current associated with the daughter ion fragments; and
(v) adjust the collision energy provided in the mass spectrometer at (i) to move the ratio toward a predetermined range or value.
10) The medium of claim 9, comprising code adapted for causing the mass spectrometer to repeat (i)-(v), as necessary, to bring the ratio into the predetermined range.
11) The medium of claim 9, wherein the collision energy is adjusted by an amount determined using the relation:
\u0394CE=m*ln(ion current ratio)+B,

where \u0394CE is the change by which the collision energy is adjusted; and m and B are constants derived through at least one of theoretical analysis and experimentation.
12) The medium of claim 11, wherein the collision energy is adjusted by an amount determined using the relation:
\u0394CE=4.5*ln(ion current ratio)+13.5 (eV)

1. A method for longitudinal orientation of tubular knitted elements such as socks (2), knee socks or the like, said tubular elements having two respective ends as a tip portion (2 ) and a band portion, comprising the steps of:
preliminarily stretching the sock (2) in a duct (3) of orientation, whereby the sock (2) is present in the duct (3) of orientation with its two ends aligned longitudinally;
detecting by means of sensors (13) the position of an end that is either a tip portion (2) or a band portion;
after the detecting step, conveying the sock (2) in the duct (3) in a direction according to which the position is known of the band portion with respect to the tip portion (2), whereby before the introduction of the sock (2) in a loading duct (3) a step is provided oat, inversion of the sock (2) if the band portion is not oriented in the chosen direction, or a step of rejection.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein for conveying the sock (2) an air flow is selectively sent in the duct (3) of orientation whereby the sock (2) proceeds in the duct (3) in either one or the other direction and is then deviated into a loading duct (3) so that it is conveyed in the loading duct (3) with band portion, and tip portion (2) oriented in a predetermined way by said sensor means.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the preliminary stretching step of the sock (2) is carried out by means of an air flow after preliminarily grasping a first end thereof, whereby the second end engages said sensor means.
4. Method according to claim 1, wherein for carrying out said detecting step a mechanical dragging step is provided (12) starting from its second end through said sensors (13) that carry out a scanning of at least part of the first end thereof.
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said sensors carry out a contemporaneous scanning of said sock upstream and downstream of said dragging means (12), whereby the profiles can be at the same time detected of said first and second end and a comparison between them is made.
6. Method according to claim 4, wherein after said preliminary stretching step the sock extends with said second end between dragging means (12), the latter pinching said second end and dragging the sock (2) after that the air flow has stopped, the first end being left free and the sensor means (13) scan the sock. (2) in the portion set between said first and said second end.
7. Method according to claim 5, wherein for a correct scanning the sock (2) is pressed between the sensor moans (13) during the dragging step, for stretching any possible folds and improving the scanning conditions.
8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sock (2) after said preliminary stretching step moves substantially in a plane, said sensors (13) scanning at least a portion of said sock (2) orthogonally to said plane, whereby said sensors recognise the plan profile of said tip portion (2) or of said band portion.
9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sock (2) after said preliminary stretching step moves substantially in a plane, said sensors (13) scanning at least a portion of said sock (2) parallel to said plane, whereby said sensors recognise different heights of the side profile of said tip portion (2) or of said band portion.
10. Apparatus for longitudinal orientation of a sock (2) according to the one of the previous claims, comprising:
a duct (3) of orientation wherein said sock (2) is present with its two ends aligned longitudinally,
sensor means (13) for scanning the profile of said sock (2) at one end of said sock (2) and determining whether it is a tip portion (2) or a band portion,
means for creating selectively an air flow in said duct (3) of orientation that drags said sock (2) in a predetermined way and brings it in a loading duct (3),
means for deviating said sock (2) so that it enters said loading duct (3) with tip portion (2) and band portion oriented in a predetermined way .
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein mechanical dragging means (12) of the sock (2) are also provided along said duct (3) of orientation and, through said sensor means (13), the latter detecting the profile of at least one part of said sock (2) at the passage controlled by said dragging means (12).
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said dragging means (12) comprise at least two dragging rollers that pinch said sock (2) and convey it so that at least a portion thereof passes through said sensor means (13).
13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said sensor means are grouped as first sensors upstream of said dragging means (12) and seconds sensors downstream said dragging means (12), whereby the profiles can be at the same time measured of said first and second end and a comparison between them is made.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sensor means (13) comprise a head that pushes said sock (2) against a counter-surface belonging to said duct (3), whereby said sock (2) is dragged between said head and said counter-surface for stretching any possible folds and for allowing a correct detection of its profile.
15. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein means are provided for stretching the sock (2) in said duct (3) comprising:
means for grasping a first end thereof leaving the second end free,
means for creating an air flow from the first to the second end;
means for blocking said dragging means (12) against said second end stretched by said air flow, said dragging means (12) dragging the sock (2) after that the air flow has stopped, the first end being left free, the sensor means (13) scanning at least one part of said sock that crosses them.
16. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in said duct (3) of orientation two grids are provided (6, 7) movable between an open position and a closed position, at each grid (6, 7) grasping means being provided (8, 9), the sensor means (13) and the dragging means (12) being arranged between said two grids (6, 7).
17. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensor means (13) comprise an array of sensors (13) with a density that allows a sufficient definition of the contour of at least a portion of the sock (2).
18. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensor means (13) are chosen among: optical sensors (13), mechanical sensors (13), pneumatic sensors (13), electrical sensors (13).

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 radio frequency switch comprising:
first, second and third transmission lines for forming first, second and third ports; and
first, second and third slot line pattern portions connected to one another, for signal transferring with the first, second and third transmission lines,
wherein the first slot line pattern portion includes a slot line pattern for providing a signal received from the first transmission line to a connection to the other slot line pattern portions, and a switching circuit installed at a predetermined position of the slot line pattern, for blocking a signal by shorting the gap of a slot line according to an external control signal, and
wherein the second slot line pattern portion includes a loop slot line formed by a first half loop slot line and a second half loop slot line, for signal transferring between a portion thereof and the second transmission line, a second sub-slot line for providing a signal received from the connection to the other slot line pattern portions to the second transmission line through the loop slot line, and a switching circuit installed at a predetermined position of slot line pattern, for blocking a signal by shorting the gap of a slot line according to an external control signal.
2. The radio frequency switch of claim 1, wherein the slot line pattern of the first slot line pattern portion comprises:
a loop slot line formed by a first half loop slot line and a second half loop slot line, for signal transferring between a portion thereof and the first transmission line;
a first sub-slot line for providing a signal received from the loop slot line to the connection to the other slot line pattern portions.
3. The radio frequency switch of claim 2, wherein the switching circuit of the first slot line pattern portion comprises:
first and second switching devices installed in the vicinity of a connection between the first half loop slot line and the first sub-slot line and a connection between the second half loop slot line and the first sub-slot line, for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal; and
a third switching device for turning onoff in the first or second half loop slot line according to the external switching control signal, separately from the first or second switching device.
4. The radio frequency switch of claim 1, wherein the slot line pattern of the first slot line pattern portion comprises:
a 1-1 sub-slot line having an open-end circuit at an end thereof, for signal transferring with the first transmission line;
a 1-2 sub-slot line having one end connected to the connection to the other slot line pattern portions;
a common open-end circuit having both ends connected to the other ends of the 1-1 and 1-2 sub-slot lines; and
a sub-microstrip line having both ends in which a signal is transferred to and from connections between the common open-end circuit and the 1-1 and 1-2 sub-slot lines by microstrip-slot line coupling.
5. The radio frequency switch of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the switching circuit of the second slot line pattern portion comprises:
a switching device installed on the second sub-slot line, for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal; and
switching devices installed in the vicinity of connections between the first half loop slot line and the second sub-slot line and between the second half loop slot line and the second sub-slot line, for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal.
6. The radio frequency switch of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the switching circuit of the second slot line pattern portion comprises:
third and fourth switching devices installed in the vicinity of connections between the first half loop slot line and the first sub-slot line and between the second half loop slot line and the second sub-slot line, for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal; and
a sixth switching device for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal on the first or second half loop slot line, separately from the third or fourth switching device.
7. The radio frequency switch of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first, second and third transmission lines are one of microstrip lines, strip lines, coaxial lines, and coplanar waveguides (CPWs).
8. The radio frequency switch of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the switching circuit of the second slot line pattern portion comprises:
third and fourth switching devices installed in the vicinity of connections between the first half loop slot line and the first sub-slot line and between the second half loop slot line and the second sub-slot line, for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal; and
a sixth switching device for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal on the first or second half loop slot line, separately from the third or fourth switching device.
9. The radio frequency switch of any of claims 1, 2, 3 and 5, wherein the switching circuit of the second slot line pattern portion comprises:
a switching device installed at the 2-2 sub-slot line, for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal;
a switching device installed in the vicinity of a connection between the first or second half loop slot line and the 2-1 sub-slot line, for turning onoff according to the external switching control signal; and
a capacitor installed across the gap of the first or second half loop slot line, facing the switching device installed at the first or second half loop slot line.
10. The radio frequency switch of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first, second and third transmission lines are one of microstrip lines, strip lines, coaxial lines, and coplanar waveguides (CPWs).