Abstract: A method for making composites uses electrochemical polymer or copolymer coating of a carbon-based support by using a reaction system including (a) at least a monomer capable of forming a polymer on said support, (b) an aprotic solvent and (c) an electrolyte providing the resulting organic medium with an electrical conductivity for conducting therein electrolysis. The carbon support permanently forms the cathode, by applying either a potential or an electric current bringing the reaction system into the passivation zone corresponding to the first inhibition peak. The method forms a polymer grafted on the support.

Abstract: A threaded fastener (1) is disclosed for anchoring into a substrate comprising a core portion (2) having at least one helical continuous thread provided along a substantial portion of the length of the core, in which the helical thread has a substantially V-shaped cross section defining two flanks (4a, 4b) which subtend an angle of between substantially 60° and 90°, and the thread has a helix angle of between approximately 20° and 45°. The crest of the thread may be flattened, and the fastener (1) is especially suited to anchoring to a masonry substrate.

Abstract: A polishing system has a polishing pad, a wafer retainer for pressing an insulating layer formed on a semiconductor wafer against polishing slurry spread over a polishing pad and a measuring apparatus for measuring the thickness of different portions of the insulating layer, and the measuring apparatus has measuring electrodes embedded in the polishing pad, a first calibration electrode also embedded in the polishing pad and a second calibration electrode embedded into the lower surface of the wafer retainer, wherein the first calibration electrode and the measuring electrodes are opposed to the second calibration electrode and an electrode formed in a dicing area of the semiconductor wafer during the polishing so that the measuring apparatus determines the thickness at the different portions on the basis of a first capacitance between the first calibration electrode and the second calibration electrode and a second capacitance between the measuring electrodes and the electrode in the dicing area.

Abstract: A contact element (51) is made of an elastic metal plate and comprises a fixing portion (53) to be fixed to an insulator (230), an elastic arm portion (55) connected to the fixing portion (53), and a contacting elastic portion (57) connected to the elastic arm portion (55). The contacting elastic portion (57) has contact points (91, 93) to be brought into contact with a mating contact surface (501) of a mating contact element. The elastic arm portion (55) and the contacting elastic portion (57) have a plurality of elastic finger portions (101, 103) displaceable independently of each other. The elastic finger portions (101, 103) have different size in a width direction of the elastic metal plate.

Abstract: Plug and socket connectors, which are connected to each other along a first direction, constitute a high speed transmission connector, as for a notebook computer, for example. The connectors interconnect a printed circuit board (PCB) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The FPC fitting portion is a socket at the end of an insulator which is to be connected to the FPC. The PCB fitting portion comprises a plug connector which is to be connected to the socket connector and to a PCB connecting portion. The plug connector fitting portion has first and second socket contacts which come into contact with the plug side signal contact and the plug side ground contact, respectively, and enclose the socket connector fitting portion along a direction perpendicular to the first direction opposing each other along a direction perpendicular on the first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and the process produces salts by an electrodialysis operation. The basic electrodialysis apparatus is a cell having a number of compartments separated by membranes. A DC source is connected to drive a current through a feed stream passing through the cell which splits the salt stream into an acid and a base. The incoming feed may be nanofiltered to remove divalent metal. The base loop may be in communication with an ion exchange column packed with a material that removes multivalent cations. Depending upon the material being processed and the desired end result either or both the nanofiltration and the ion exchanged column may be used in the apparatus.

Abstract: A connector engaging/disengaging mechanism comprises a frame member (3) and connector carriers (7) for engaging and disengaging first connector (40) mounted on a printed circuit board (5) fixed onto the frame (3) and second connectors (30) held on said connector carriers (7). The frame member is provided with guide grooves (11) in which the connector carriers (7) are received to be slidable in an engaging direction (A) and a disengaging direction (B). Each of the connector carriers (7) has connector holding portions for holding the second connectors and an operating portion (15) for moving the connector carrier to engage and disengage the second connectors (30) to and from the first connector (40). When the operating portion (15) is manually operated to move the connector carrier in the engaging direction, the second connectors (30) are connected with the first connectors (40).

Abstract: A food product having the crisp texture, golden brown appearance and fresh fried taste of conventionally-fried foods, comprising a food substrate coated with a cereal-based batter containing sodium caseinate and no egg albumen in which the batter has a solids level of at least 30 percent by weight and provides at least about 0.2 percent by weight of sodium caseinate.

Abstract: In an electrical connector which has a first insulator (1a), a first contact (7) supported by the first insulator, a second insulator (2a) faced to the first insulator in a first direction, and a second contact (2a) supported by the second insulator, the second insulator has a side wall defining a groove (9) extending along the first insulator to have a first and a second part arranged in a second direction (A2) perpendicular to the first direction. The first contact has a first contacting portion (7a) inserted into the first part and carried towards the second part by relative movement between the first and the second insulators in the second direction. The second contact has a second contacting portion (8a) being of a flat shape, placed in the second part, and supported by the side wall. The second contacting portion extends in a direction approximate to the second direction.

Abstract: A trip meter includes a bracket secured to a member of a bicycle, a main body detachably secured to the bracket, a signal receiving circuit positioned in the main body for wirelessly receiving a pulse signal outputted from a transmitter, and a signal processing circuit electrically connected to the signal receiving circuit for counting a number and a frequency of the pulse signal and correspondingly generating an output signal indicative of the plurality of trip data.

Abstract: A process uses a water repellant material in order to enhance the water resistance of composite. The process begins with a saturated vegetable or animal fat triglyceride having a low iodine value. The triglyceride is melted to form a sprayable liquid. The sprayable triglyceride and a bonding agent are applied to the fibrous materials, preparatory to a press binding. Then, the sprayed fibrous material is subjected to a hot press cycle in order to form a bonded fibrous composition. The low Iodine Value triglyceride may be selected from a group including hydrogenated vegetable oil, palm oil, stearine, winterized low IV fractions, soy stearine, animal fat, hydrogenated animal fat, and fractionated fats or blends of these materials.

Abstract: A simplified tri-layer process for forming a thin film transistor matrix for a liquid crystal display is disclosed. By using a backside exposure technique twice, two masking steps for patterning an etch stopper layer, and an upper doped and a lower intrinsic semiconductor layers, respectively, can be omitted. Further, owing to the back-exposing energy for patterning the semiconductor layers is less than that for patterning the etch stopper layer, the resulting etch stopper layer is enclosed with the resulting semiconductor layers, and the contact of the two semiconductor layers can be achieved.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) signal transmitting device adapted to transmit signals between a computer and a plurality of wireless peripheral equipment is developed. The RF signal transmitting device includes a plurality of RF signal transmitters and an RF signal receiver. The RF signal transmitters are electrically connected to the plurality of wireless peripheral equipment, respectively, and each is provided for modulating an output signal therefrom into an RF signal with a specific carrier frequency and transmitting the RF signal. The RF signal receiver is electrically connected to the computer for synchronously receiving the RF signals from the RF signal transmitters and converting each of the RF signals to an operating signal to operate the computer.

Abstract: An electrical pickup for use with a stringed musical instrument is disclosed, as well as a stringed musical instrument employing such a pickup. The pickup is formed of a plurality of magnetoresistive elements, whose electrical resistance decreases as the magnitude of a surrounding magnetic field increases. A first pair of the magnetoresistive elements form two opposite legs of a Wheatstone bridge, and a second pair forms the remaining legs. The magnetoresistive elements forming the two pairs are electrically opposite one another, but are physically located side by side. The first pair is located on a first side of the vibrating string, and the second pair is located on the other side. A magnetic field is established which interacts with the magnetoresistive elements. The pickup is positioned so that the vibration of the string causes perturbations in the magnetic field, which in turn alter the resistance of the magnetoresistive elements.

Abstract: To provide a piezoelectric transformer drive method and a drive circuit which is capable of preventing breakdown of the piezoelectric transformer due to excessive oscillation on its activation and of obtaining a high efficiency. Controller controlling the load power to a constant value is provided. The controller is controlled in such a manner that the driving of the piezoelectric transformer is initiated at a frequency higher than the resonating frequency on its activation and thereafter the drive frequency is gradually lowered without passing through the resonating frequency of the piezoelectric transfer on its activation.

Abstract: In an electrical connector to be surface-mounted on a printed circuit board, which comprises an insulator body, a plurality of contacts fixed to the insulator body, and a metallic shell fitted on the insulator body, the contacts having contact portions in a mating hole for receiving a mating plug connector, the insulator body is formed with a pair of pillars extending in parallel with the contacts for supporting the metallic shell. The mating hole is defined by the metallic shell supported by the pillars so that the contacts are enclosed directly by the metallic shell without insulator walls therebetween.

Abstract: A radio-controlled clock movement for use in a radio-controlled clock which is synchronized with timing information supplied by a broadcast time signal includes a sound transducer for providing an audible signal representative of the strength of the received time signal. The clock is synchronized by setting the clock hands to an initial set position, decoding timing information from the broadcast time signal, calculating the relative distance to move the clock hands to make the displayed time synchronous with the decoded timing information and moving the clock hands the calculated relative distance. The initial set position is determined based on the desired time zone. In this manner, time zones are considered when setting the clock.

Abstract: The invention provides for a refinement of phytochemicals in order to tailor the refined end product to particular human dietary needs. More particularly, a composition is prepared by extracting phytochemicals from plant matter. This composition is enriched preferably in two or more isoflavones, lignans, saponins, catechins and phenolic acids. Soy is the preferred source of these chemicals; however, other plants may also be used, such as red clover, kudzu, flax, and cocoa. The composition is a dietary supplement for treatment of various cancers, pre-and-post-menstrual syndromes, and various other disorders.