A determination method for determining a pattern of a mold is disclosed. The pattern of the mold is used in imprint processing of forming a pattern on imprint material by performing the steps of pressing the imprint material on a substrate against the pattern of the mold in an atmosphere containing condensable gas to be liquefied due to compression, curing the imprint material, and releasing the mold from the imprint material. A processor calculates a shrinkage amount of the pattern on the imprint material. The pattern on the imprint material shrinks by desorbing condensate liquid, which is produced through liquefaction of the condensable gas between the imprint material and the pattern of the mold in the pressing step and which is dissolved in the imprint material, from the imprint material after completion of the pressing step.

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle luminous device including at least one first portion that is transparent to at least one laser beam, the portion having at least one first polymer material, and at least one second portion that absorbs the laser beam and is transparent to at least some of the visible spectrum, including at least one second polymer material, the second portion being laser welded to the first portion.

To provide a balloon catheter and an apparatus and method for manufacturing the balloon catheter, whereby the degree of welding can be appropriately adjusted and the balloon catheter can be formed so as to have a desired surface profile suitable for various uses including medical use. With a shaft 14 inserted through a catheter tube 30a inserted into an end portion 28b of a balloon and also with a pressure tube 32a fitted around a welding section where the end portion 28b of the balloon 28 is lapped over the catheter tube 30a, the shaft 14 is heated by emitting laser light from a laser radiation unit 8 to the welding section while the shaft 14 is rotated by a chuck, to weld the welding section.

A laminate of the present invention includes a first member which contains a thermoplastic polymer and through which laser light is transmitted and a second member which contains a thermoplastic polymer and absorbs laser light, wherein the first member is directly bonded to the second member, and A represented by the formula 1: A=−9×D+Wa−45 is more than zero. D represents a distance between a Hansen solubility parameter of the thermoplastic polymer of the first member and a Hansen solubility parameter of the thermoplastic polymer of the second member, and Wa represents work of adhesion calculated from each surface free energy of the first member and the second member. Such a first member and a second member are firmly bonded to each other without using a bonding sheet.

A method for applying a layer having a relief on a substrate includes, steps of securing the substrate, applying a layer of a curable liquid on the substrate, bringing a mould having a relief being the negative of the relief to be provided on the substrate, into contact with a part of the upper surface of the liquid layer, curing the liquid layer while the mould is in contact with the liquid and separating the mould from the substrate. Initially the mould is brought into contact with the liquid in a bent position while the substrate is kept flat and subsequently the mould is brought into contact over an increasing surface area keeping the mould in a bent position until the complete liquid layer is in contact with the mould.

A description is given of a method for joining a first and a second film web (2, 2′) of a transfer film or laminating film, wherein the film webs (2, 2′) comprise a thermoplastic carrier film (21) and a decorative layer (23). Formed between the first and second film webs (2, 2′) is a common joining portion (3), in which the first and second film webs (2, 2′) are joined to each other by a welding process. A device for carrying out the method is also described.

A flow sensor includes an auxiliary channel having an opening into which a fluid to be measured is taken; a sensor element that measures the flow of the fluid to be measured; a housing that accommodates electronic parts; and a resin cover. The flow sensor is configured such that junctions of the housing and the cover are formed in locations where first target weld portions, which are formed so that the circuit chamber is surrounded, face each other and second target weld portions, which are disposed for additional reinforcement of the joints, face each other on a bonding face of the housing and a bonding face of the cover with a step being provided. The positioning of the housing and the cover is determined, and the first target weld portions are welded to each other and second target weld portions are welded to each other by way of laser radiation.

The invention relates to the use of compounds of formulae (I) and/or (II) as colorless IR absorbers wherein M is Ni, Pd, Pt, Au, Ir, Fe, Zn, W, Cu, Mo, In, Mn, Co, Mg, V, Cr or Ti, X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are each independently of the others sulfur or oxygen, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently of the others hydrogen, NR.sub.7R.sub.8, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl wherein the alkylene chain is interrupted with oxygen, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, each independently of the other, being unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, a further IR absorber optionally being added to the compounds of formulae (I) and (II). The invention relates also to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein X.sub.1 is oxygen and X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are oxygen or sulfur. The invention relates furthermore to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 are NR.sub.7R.sub.8. ##STR00001##

In polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and electrolyzes, attaining and maintaining high membrane conductivity and durability is crucial for performance and efficiency. The use of low equivalent weight (EW) perfluorinated ionomers is one of the few options available to improve membrane conductivity. However, excessive dimensional changes of low EW ionomers upon application of wet/dry or freeze/thaw cycles yield catastrophic losses in membrane integrity. Incorporation of ionomers within porous, dimensionally-stable perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates provides improved PEM performance and longevity. The present invention provides novel methods using micromolds to fabricate the perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates. These novel methods using micromolds create uniform and well-defined pore structures. In addition, these novel methods using micromolds described herein may be used in batch or continuous processing.

A method for manufacturing an artificial elastic implant for restorative and reconstructive surgery includes two casting steps performed in a casting mold. The mold has at least a cover that is optically and UV transparent. In a first step, a first layer of a first photo-curable material or of a second photo-curable material is cast while forming a meniscus. Using one of two photo masks, the mold is irradiated with UV light to cure the first layer. In a second step, a second layer of either the first or the second photo-curable material is cast onto the cured first layer while forming a meniscus. After irradiating the mold again with ultraviolet light, unhardened photo-curable material is removed from the product by dissolving in a suitable solvent. After additionally irradiating the product with UV light, the product is soaked, separated from the mold, placed in isopropyl alcohol and then vacuum dried.