Abstract: The present invention relates a novel aqueous composition comprising polymeric thermal acid generator and a process of coating the novel composition onto photoresist pattern, thereby forming a layer of the polymeric thermal acid generator over the photoresist pattern. The polymeric thermal acid generator comprises a polymer having at least one repeating unit of structure 2; where R1 to R5 are independently chosen from the group consisting of H and C1-C6 alkyl; R6 is chosen from the group consisting of unsubstituted aryl, substituted aryl, alkyl (C1-C8) and fluoroalkyl (C1-C8) and W is a C2-C6 alkylene spacer.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed solutions and processes to remove substances from substrates. In some cases, the substances can include photoresist on semiconductor wafers. The solution can include hydrogen peroxide in an amount that is no greater than 15% by weight of the total weight of the solution. The solution can also include a quaternary ammonium hydroxide and water. Further, the solution can include an amine, a co-solvent, or both. One or more sides of the substrate can be contacted with the solution to remove one or more substances from the solution.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing substrates according to a predetermined photolithography process includes a loading station in which the substrates are loaded, a coating station in which the substrates are coated with a photoresist material, an exposing station in which the photoresist coating is exposed to light through a mask having a predetermined pattern to produce a latent image of the mask on the photoresist coating, a developing station in which the latent image is developed, an unloading station in which the substrates are unloaded and a monitoring station for monitoring the substrates with respect to predetermined parameters of said photolithography process before reaching the unloading station.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes an optical system configured to expose a substrate. The optical system includes an optical member, a holding portion which holds the optical member, a pressing portion which presses the holding portion and the optical member against each other, and a sealed adhesive material which is filled in a space formed by the optical member and the holding portion pressed against each other, and adheres the optical member and the holding portion to each other.

Abstract: A pattern generator includes a mirror array plate having a mirror, at least one electrode plate disposed over the mirror array plate, a lens let disposed over the mirror, and at least one insulator layer sandwiched between the mirror array plate and the electrode plate. The electrode plate includes a first conducting layer and a second conducting layer. The lens let has a non-straight sidewall formed in the electrode plate. The pattern generator further includes at least one insulator sandwiched between two electrode plates. The non-straight sidewall can be a U-shaped sidewall or an L-shaped sidewall.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; a gas supply opening radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature; and a gas recovery opening radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature and at least partly surrounding the gas supply opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for microstructuring a substrate. In the method according to the invention a substrate with a region to be structured is provided, and then by applying colloid spheres into this region, a colloid sphere monolayer is formed. The thus applied colloid sphere monolayer exhibits a certain geometrical symmetry. Said colloid sphere monolayer is then illuminated with a beam of spatially modulated intensity distribution synchronized to said monolayer, thereby performing mechanical structuring in said region in conformity with a desired pattern through concentrating beam intensity via near-field effect behind said colloid sphere monolayer in the propagation direction of light.

Abstract: A substrate is loaded onto a substrate support of a lithographic apparatus, after which the apparatus measures locations of substrate alignment marks. These measurements define first correction information allowing the apparatus to apply a pattern at one or more desired locations on the substrate. Additional second correction information is used to enhance accuracy of pattern positioning, in particular to correct higher order distortions of a nominal alignment grid. The second correction information may be based on measurements of locations of alignment marks made when applying a previous pattern to the same substrate. The second correction information may alternatively or in addition be based on measurements made on similar substrates that have been patterned prior to the current substrate.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus is equipped with an encoder system which measures positional information of a wafer stage by irradiating a measurement beam using four heads installed on the wafer stage on a scale plate which covers the movement range of the wafer stage except for the area right under a projection optical system. Placement distances of the heads here are each set to be larger than width of the opening of the scale plates, respectively. This allows the positional information of the wafer stage to be measured, by switching and using the three heads facing the scale plate out of the four heads according to the position of the wafer stage.

Abstract: A beam adjuster assembly (14) receives an input beam (16) and provides a first output beam (18) and a spaced apart second output beam (20). The beam adjuster assembly (14) comprises a first frequency adjuster (22) and a second frequency adjuster (24). The first frequency adjuster (22) receives the input beam (16). The first frequency adjuster (22) transmits a first portion of the input beam (16) to provide the first output beam (18) having a first output frequency. Additionally, the first frequency adjuster (22) adjusts a second portion of the input beam (16) to provide a first adjusted beam (354). The second frequency adjuster (24) receives the first adjusted beam (354). Moreover, the second frequency adjuster (24) adjusts at least a portion of the first adjusted beam (354) to provide the second output beam (20) having a second output frequency that is different than the first output frequency.

Abstract: There is provided an EUV exposure apparatus which restrains its optical systems or a mask used therein from being polluted by contaminations generated in its chamber. An energy beam generating source is arranged near a wafer stage set in the chamber of the EUV exposure apparatus to decompose an emission gas generated from a resist painted on the front surface of a wafer by an energy beam. In this manner, lightening mirrors configuring a lightening optical system as one of the optical systems, projection mirrors configuring a projection optical system as another of the optical systems, the mask, and others are protected from being polluted by contaminations.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of determining one or more focus values for a lithographic scanner. An optical signal including at least a first variable and a second variable is detected by an optical analysis system from at least one test sample for a plurality of programmed focus error values. A first variable value showing sensitivity to focus is selected based upon a corresponding responsiveness of the second variable to change of focus and/or a corresponding linearity of raw focus with respect to the programmed focus error. At least one focus value for the lithographic scanner is determined based upon at least one determined raw focus value corresponding to the selected first variable value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detection apparatus which detects an object to be detected, the apparatus including an illumination system configured to illuminate the object with light containing a first wavelength range and a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range, a detector configured to detect light from the object illuminated by the illumination system, and an optical member configured to set a transmittance for light in the first wavelength range and a transmittance for light in the second wavelength range to be different from each other, thereby reducing a difference between an intensity value of the light which has the first wavelength range and is detected by the detector and an intensity value of the light which has the second wavelength range and is detected by the detector.

Abstract: A composition that contains a compound represented by the formula (1) is dissolved in an organic compound, and the composition is purified by using a basic adsorbent that contains at least 15% by mass magnesium and has a volume average particle diameter of 10 ?m to 500 ?m, both inclusive. An undercoat-layer-forming coating liquid is prepared by removing the basic adsorbent and dispersing metal oxide particles in the obtained solution containing the purified form of the composition. An undercoat layer is formed by forming a coat of the undercoat-layer-forming coating liquid and drying the coat.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical conductive substrate, an undercoat layer containing a cured product of a resin and a blocked isocyanate and being disposed on the conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer on the undercoat layer. The degree of curing of the undercoat layer defined by the equation below is about 1.5 or less in both a region A and a region B defined below: Region A (B): A region between a position distant from a first (second) end of the conductive substrate by about ? of a length of the conductive substrate and a position distant from the first (second) end of the conductive substrate by about ? of the length of the conductive substrate Degree of curing=[Amount (g) of blocking agent separated from blocked isocyanate in undercoat layer]/weight of undercoat layer (g)×100.

Abstract: A photoconductor is provided. The photoconductor includes an electroconductive substrate; an intermediate layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer located overlying the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes at least a resin, and a particulate zinc oxide that includes sodium, sulfur and calcium in amounts of from 10 ppm to 200 ppm, from 50 ppm to 500 ppm, and from 10 ppm to 200 ppm, respectively.

Abstract: A method for preparing a latex or dispersion, the method comprising contacting at least one resin with an organic solvent to form a resin mixture; neutralizing the resin mixture with a neutralizing agent; and subjecting the resin mixture flow to steam flow in a continuous manner to form a dispersion. A method for forming toner, the method comprising: contacting a resin to an organic solvent and a neutralizing agent to form a resin mixture; subjecting the resin mixture flow to a steam flow in a continuous manner to form a dispersion; aggregating particles from a pre-toner mixture, the pre-toner mixture comprising the dispersion, an optional colorant, and an optional wax; and coalescing the aggregated particles to form toner particles. An apparatus that can perform the methods.

Abstract: A method for producing a toner for electrostatic image development, including the steps of (1) polycondensing an alcohol component, a carboxylic acid component, and polyethylene terephthalate to provide an amorphous polyester; and (2) subjecting the amorphous polyester obtained in the step (1) and components containing a crystalline polyester in an amount of from 0.3 to 2.5 times the mass of the components derived from the polyethylene terephthalate in the amorphous polyester to a process for producing a toner. The toner for electrostatic image development obtained by the method of the present invention is suitably used in development or the like of latent images formed in, for example, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for concentrating an ink for an electrostatic printing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing the ink for an electrostatic printing process, the ink comprising chargeable particles in a liquid carrier; (b) passing the ink between a chargeable conveyor and a first electrode, wherein a potential is applied such that the ink becomes adhered to the chargeable conveyor; (c) passing the ink on the conveyor past a moving surface, wherein the ink contacts the moving surface and a potential is applied between the conveyor and the moving surface, such that the chargeable particles are disposed to move toward the conveyor and some of the liquid carrier is removed to increase the concentration of the chargeable particles in the liquid carrier on the conveyor to form a concentrated ink on the conveyor, the conveyor and the moving surface then diverging from one another, such that substantially all of the concentrated ink remains on the conveyor; (d)

Abstract: A toner includes toner particles, each containing binder resin and a plurality of microcapsules dispersed therein, each of the microcapsules containing a liquid material. A method for forming an image on a medium includes forming an electrostatic latent image on a carrier, forming a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image using the toner, transferring the toner image onto a medium, and fixing the transferred toner image on the medium.

Abstract: Toner for developing an electrostatic latent image contains toner particles, the toner particles contain a resin and a pigment, the pigment includes a first pigment, a second pigment, and a third pigment, the first pigment is carbon black, the second pigment is C. I. Pigment Brown 23 and/or C. I. Pigment Brown 25, and the third pigment is nigrosine.

Abstract: Toner for developing an electrostatic latent image contains toner particles, the toner particles contain a resin and a pigment, the pigment includes a first pigment and a second pigment, the first pigment is carbon black, and the second pigment is C. I. Pigment Brown 23 and/or C. I. Pigment Brown 25.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic charge image developing toner, including: toner base particles including a polyester resin as a binder resin; and an external additive on the surface of the toner base particles. The external additive includes silica. The silica is produced by sol-gel method, and is aspherical. The percentage of change in the specific surface area of the toner when it is stored under high-temperature, high-humidity conditions is from 25% to 45%.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming devices having a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member to form a toner image, and a transferring device that transfers the developed toner image to an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material, for each of a plurality of colors, an exposure unit that irradiates the image bearing member with a laser beam to form the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, and a detector that detects an image pattern for correcting misregistration of each color. In addition, a control device corrects the misregistration of each color based on a detection result by the detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an acquisition unit for independently acquiring image correction information on every page, the image correction information being independently preset for every page on which an image is to be formed; and a control unit for correcting an image forming condition for every page based on the image correction information acquired by the acquisition unit and controlling the image forming apparatus to form the image on a sheet based on the corrected image forming condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a transfer bias power source to apply to the transfer device a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current (AC) component is superimposed on a direct current (DC) component in a superimposed transfer mode to transfer the toner image. The superimposed transfer bias has a waveform in which a first polarity in a direction of transferring the toner image onto the recording medium and a second polarity opposite the first polarity switch alternately. The superimposed transfer bias is output such that a standard value of each of the DC component and the AC component is multiplied by a respective correction ratio, and the correction ratio of the DC component is different from that of the AC component.

Abstract: A holder is movable in a horizontal direction between an internal position within the main casing and an external position outside of a main casing. The holder has a first opening extending in the horizontal direction. A drum unit is configured to be held by the holder and is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the holder. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum having an axis extending in an axial direction, a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the axial direction. A particular pressure member is positioned in confrontation with the drum unit and urges the first end portion upward through the first opening to permit the photosensitive drum to be in contact with an endless belt when the holder is in the internal position.

Abstract: There are provided an image-forming apparatus that inhibit the occurrence of a longitudinal streak image attributed to a cleaning failure, and a process cartridge. The image-forming apparatus and the process cartridge each have a charging member with a surface having a concavities derived from an opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle, and a protrusions derived from an edge of the opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle, the coverage ratio X1 of a surface of the toner with the silica fine particles is 50.0 area % or more and 75.0 area % or less, and when a theoretical coverage ratio of the toner by the silica fine particles is X2, a diffusion index represented by the formula 1 satisfies the formula 2: diffusion index=X1/X2??(formula 1) diffusion index??0.0042×X1+0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating polygon mirror configured to rotate and reflect the first laser beam and the second laser beam, a first generation unit configured to generate a first signal based on timings at which the respective first laser beams, a second generation unit configured to generate a second signal for determining a timing to form an electrostatic latent image on the second image bearing member with the second laser beam based on the first signal and a correction value, and a calculation unit configured to calculate the correction value based on the output of the detection unit, in which the calculation unit calculates the correction value based on the signal output from the detection unit in a period of time that has passed until the rotating polygon mirror reaches steady rotation since it has started to be driven to rotate.

Abstract: When a toner charging amount for toner in a liquid developer conveyed to a development portion is set, a wet-type image formation apparatus performs a sensing operation in which a sensing unit senses image densities of a plurality of patch images formed at different development biases with the toner charging amount being set to a constant value, and a setting operation in which, in a case where a control unit calculates current development characteristics based on the image densities of the plurality of patch images sensed by the sensing unit, and determines that the current development characteristics are not included within a set target range, the control unit controls a charging unit to set the toner charging amount such that the development characteristics are included within the set target range.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a body having a toner reservoir containing toner and a non-volatile memory device containing a table having a plurality of toner feed rates, each toner feed rate corresponds to the number of 1/1652 of a rotation a drive element turns to move one gram of toner out the outlet port at a predetermined amount of toner in the reservoir.

Abstract: A developer conveyance apparatus includes a developer storage portion configured to store developer, a developer conveyance portion arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to convey the developer through rotation, a drive input portion configured to input a drive force to the developer conveyance portion, and a clutch arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to transmit the drive force from the drive input portion to the developer conveyance portion, wherein the clutch is arranged inside the developer storage portion and includes at least one clutch side conveyance portion which, when receiving the drive force from the drive input portion, conveys the developer in a developer conveyance direction in which the developer conveyance portion conveys the developer.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container includes: a flexible container provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer; a sealing member, mounted to the flexible container in a state in which the sealing member seals the opening, capable of exposing the opening by being wound up; an unsealing member for winding up the sealing member by being rotated to expose the opening; a frame for accommodating the unsealing member; and a limiting portion for limiting deformation of the unsealing member with respect to a direction of a force applied from the sealing member to the unsealing member when the unsealing member winds up the sealing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge installing section in which a first cartridge and a second cartridge are selectively installable; and a controller. The first cartridge includes: a first case configured to contain a first developer; a first developing roller; and a first transport member configured to transport the first developer toward the first developing roller. The second cartridge includes: a second case configured to contain a second developer, an amount of the second developer being greater than an amount of the first developer; a second developing roller; and a second transport member configured to transport the second developer toward the second developing roller. The controller is configured to control a drive source to drive one of the first transport member and the second transport member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing, a stirring member, a developing unit body, a driving device, a detecting device, and a control device. The housing accommodates developer supplied from a supply means and including toner and carrier. The stirring member rotates in the housing to stir the developer. The developing unit body rotates in the housing to convey the developer toward an image carrying member from the stirring member and attaches the toner to the image carrying member. The driving device rotationally drive at least one of the stirring member and the developing unit body. The detecting device detects the torque of the driving device. The control device performs a recovery process of controlling the supply means to supply at least one of the carrier and the developer to an interior of the housing when a detection result of the detecting device has a value lower than a threshold value.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer carrier configured to hold a developer including a toner and a carrier on a developer carrying area, a first chamber configured to collect the developer from the developer carrier, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber and to circulate the developer between the first chamber and the second chamber. A first conveying member in the first chamber conveys the developer from a first communication portion toward a second communication portion, and a second conveying member in the second chamber conveys the developer from the second communication portion toward the first communication portion. The first communication portion is configured to be provided outside of the developer carrying area, and the second communication portion is configured to be provided in a position overlapping an edge of the developer carrying area.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member, a developing container, a pair of first seal members provided at end portions of the developer carrying member along a circumferential direction of the developer carrying member so as to contact the developer carrying member, and a pair of second seal members configured to seal the end portions of the developer carrying member. The second seal members are provided at overlapping positions with the first seal members with respect to a circumferential surface of the developer carrying member and an axial direction of the developer carrying member. The second seal members are mountable in a direction crossing the axial direction of the developer carrying member and into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus in a state in which the developer carrying member is mounted in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developer unit for a dual component development electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for storing a developer mix that includes toner and magnetic carrier beads. An axial sealing rib projects from an inner side of the housing toward the outer surface of a sleeve of a magnetic roll. The axial sealing rib extends along an axial length of the sleeve. A distal end of the axial sealing rib is positioned in close proximity to and spaced from the outer surface of the sleeve. The axial sealing rib is positioned to impede the flow of developer mix in the reservoir in a direction counter to an operative rotational direction of the sleeve.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic ink developer comprises a developer roller (112) rotatable about an axis, first and second electrodes (108, 110) proximate the developer roller (112) and an inlet chamber (100) extending along the axis from a first end adjacent an inlet opening (122) to a second end opposite the first end. A neck (104) forms an uninterrupted ink flow path from the inlet chamber (100) to the developer roller (112).

Abstract: A liquid development apparatus uses a developer to develop electrostatic latent images included in a plurality of image portion regions formed successively on an image carrier with an inter-image region being interposed. The liquid development apparatus includes a developer carrier and a control unit. Only a single developer carrier is provided so as to establish one-to-one relation with a single image carrier, it transports the developer to a development position opposed to the image carrier, and it develops the electrostatic latent image while it abuts to the image carrier. The control unit carries out prescribed control such that an amount of the developer supplied from the developer carrier to the inter-image region on the image carrier is reduced or set to zero.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form a first image to be transferred to a sheet with a non-decolorizable material, and a second image forming unit configured to form a second image to be transferred to the sheet with a decolorizable material. At least a part of the second image transferred to the sheet is formed on the first image transferred to the sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus that has a developing unit, an intermediate transfer body, and a transfer roller and may prevent contamination of the transfer roller and a printing medium by the toner remaining in a test pattern forming area of the intermediate transfer body. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit to allow an image to be formed by a developing agent, an intermediate transfer body provided with an image forming area and a test pattern forming area, the image being transferred from the developing unit to the image forming area and the test pattern forming area, and a transfer roller allowing the image to be transferred from the image forming area to a printing medium, wherein a maximum transfer length of the transfer roller is less than a maximum image forming length of the developing unit.

Abstract: A belt assembly includes a belt formed into an endless loop, a plurality of support rollers with a rotary shaft, a shaft-end retainer, a movable supporting member, and a drive transmission device. The plurality of support rollers includes a first support roller and a second support roller. The shaft-end retainer is disposed at each end of the rotary shaft of the plurality of support rollers. The movable supporting member supports the first support roller and is movably disposed relative to the shaft-end retainer. The drive transmission device transmits a driving force to one of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device and the movable supporting member are disposed on a same side as the shaft-end retainer in an axial direction of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device is disposed between the shaft-end retainer and the movable supporting member in the axial direction.

Abstract: A transfer member includes a support, an elastic layer, and a resin layer having a sea-island structure on the elastic layer, wherein elongation at break of the resin layer is from 20% to 180%, and an average diameter of an island portion thereof is from 0.5 ?m to 3 ?m.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section configured to form an image on an image carrier, a transfer roller configured to transfer the image formed on the image carrier to an image receiving medium, a support body configured to support the image carrier in a main body opposite to the transfer roller, a holding member arranged in the support body to hold two end parts of the transfer roller and having a conductive member that makes electrical contact with the transfer roller when the transfer roller is mounted in the holding member, and a power supply section configured to apply transfer bias to the image carrier and to the transfer roller through the conductive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member disposed facing the image bearing member to form a transfer region therebetween, a transfer bias application device to apply to the transfer region a transfer bias including a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium as the recording medium passes through the transfer region, and a controller operatively connected to the transfer bias application device to allow, during a bias change period in a sheet absent period in which the image bearing member rotates and no recording medium passes through the transfer region, the transfer bias application device to selectively apply to the transfer region one of the transfer bias without the AC component and the transfer bias with a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC component less than that applied in image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, an external-sheet inlet, a waste toner container, a connector, and a conveying roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet inserted through the external-sheet inlet in the feeding path. The conveying roller is mounted on the waste toner container and removable from the chassis along with the waste toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a belt; a cleaning blade; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the cleaning blade in the width direction so that one end portion thereof is between first and second positions and the other end portion thereof is between third and fourth positions; and a brush, extending in the width direction, for removing the toner deposited on the belt in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the belt. The brush is provided upstream of the cleaning blade and downstream of the transfer portion with respect to the movement direction of the belt so that one end portion of the brush is between the first and second positions and the other end portion of the brush is between the third and fourth positions.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: an endless belt; a heater for heating the belt, the heater forms a sliding portion between an inner surface of the belt and the heater; a rotatable member cooperative with the heater to sandwich the belt to form a nip between an outer peripheral surface of the belt and the rotatable member; a temperature detector provided on a surface of the heater relatively more remote from the sliding portion than the heater; a controller for controlling the timing of feeding the sheet to the nip on the basis of an output of the detector; and lubricant provided in at least a part of the sliding portion except for a range which is in an opposing relation with the detector. The sliding portion is free of the lubricant in the range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer body that transfers an image formed with toner containing a flat pigment to a recording medium; and a fixing unit that, when the image having an area coverage that is greater than or equal to a predetermined area coverage occupies a width that is less than a predetermined width of the recording medium, fixes the image to the recording medium with fixing energy having a first value, and that, when the image having the area coverage that is greater than or equal to the predetermined area coverage occupies a width that is greater than or equal to the predetermined width of the recording medium, fixes the image to the recording medium with fixing energy having a second value, the second value being greater than the first value.