Abstract: A handle having improved ergonomics and relatively compact low cost design is provided. In particular, the handle may include two hand grip areas which may be integral with one another. The two hand grips may be approximately perpendicular to one another. Further, one or both of the grip areas may include grip alignment mechanisms that improve the ergonomic alignment of a persons hand on the hand grip area of the handle. In another aspect the hand grip(s) may have smooth rounded grasping surfaces to provide comfort when grasped by a hand. The alignment mechanism(s) may be placed at an optimal location on the hand grip(s) area and result in improved control and comfort during use. In addition, one of the alignment mechanisms may serve a dual purpose of hand alignment and as a stop that prevents a person's hand from slipping off of the grip area during use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrappers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in various embodiments, a putty knife, taping knife, or scrapper blade may have at least one working surface or edge that has been at heat treated while an area of the blade where a handle is permanently attached is not heat treated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to building tools that are high quality, durable, and in some case lightweight and may include an output port assembly that has multiple sections that may be made separately and uniquely so as reduce tool weight, corrosion, and cost without degrading strength and durability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for risk assessment are disclosed. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may include at least one risk information source receiving risk information, and generating a risk assessment report based on the risk information. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may include a risk information source, an asset information source, and an analysis system that correlates one or more risks with one or more assets. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may generate a risk assessment report from the correlated risk information and asset information. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may be applied globally assessing risks that occur in any region or country throughout the world, for any type of risk(s) or any type of asset(s). In various embodiments, the systems and methods may be beneficial to business organizations for identifying, quantifying and/or managing potential and/or actual operating risks.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to construction tools. The present invention includes tools used for applying mastic or mud to a work surface, for example, a flat box mastic applicator tool, blade assembly, and/or blade adjustment system, that have many improvements too numerous to mention all in the Abstract. The flat box mastic applicator may include unique walls. The blade assembly may have a non-uniform cross section, e.g., a blade holder with thinner areas and/or material removed at various locations along its lateral length. The blade holder may have a larger size outer end(s) to withstand bending or braking. The blade holder may have and arched shape, ribs or bumps for holding a blade more firmly, and a ridge or bump at its outer edge to act as a dam. The blade adjustment system may include symmetrical pins or posts and a tapered leaf spring. See further improvements herein.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board comprises core layers 101 and 102 made of a core material impregnated with resin, resin layers 111 and 112 interposed between the core layers 101 and 102, a wiring pattern 140 embedded in the resin layers 111 and 112. The core layers 101 and 102 have a thickness of 100 ?m or smaller, whereby the entire board can significantly be thinned. Furthermore, the less strong resin layers 111 and 112 are interposed between the hard core layers 101 and 102, whereby the entire board has increased strength.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are lightweight, high quality, durable, rigid and strong. For example, various tools used to level items and/or as a straight edge for aligning or drawing lines on items may be designed in an improved or augmented I beam style so that they are lightweight, strong, durable and rigid so as to hold their shape under stress or return to their original shape after being stressed. In various exemplary embodiments, the I beam style level and/or straight edge may have a first main elongated side to which two elongated perpendicular sides are connected or coupled. At least one or more higher strength elongated sides, for example a second elongate side, may be comprised of a closed or box shaped side. For example, the second elongated side may be, for example, a box shaped construction.

Abstract: A semiconductor IC-embedded substrate suitable for embedding a semiconductor IC in which the electrode pitch is extremely narrow. The substrate comprises a semiconductor IC 120 in which stud bumps 121 are provided to the principal surface 120a, a first resin layer 111 for covering the principal surface 120a of the semiconductor IC 120, and a second resin layer 112 for covering the back surface 120b of the semiconductor IC 120. The stud bumps 121 of the semiconductor IC 120 protrude from the surface of the first resin layer 111. The method for causing the stud bumps 121 to protrude from the surface of the first resin layer 111 may involve using a wet blasting method to cause an overall reduction of the thickness of the first resin layer 111. The stud bumps 121 can thereby be properly uncovered even when the electrode pitch of the semiconductor IC 120 is narrow.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to distillation systems and methods. The still may have an impermeable nonporous membrane that may be extruded, molded, vacuum formed or sprayed-on. The membrane may be installed in a lightweight basin as a liner. The distillation system may also include a unique sealing system that may include a gasket with a cross-section shaped like the lowercase letter “e” and may include a trim piece that hold a basin casing and casing cover together. The distillation system may be designed in such a manner so as to make shipping and assembly easy and cost effective. For example, the distillation system may be constructed as a kit that all needed components and all the components are placed inside of a standard dimension box for shipping. In various embodiments, the distillation system may be a solar distillation system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are high quality, strong, and lightweight. For example, various tools such as clamps may be made using parts containing a compound or alloy including magnesium. Magnesium may be for cast or extruded parts. In one embodiment, an “F” style clamp may be made with one or both of the two cooperating jaw members or sections being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In one variation, the “F” style clamp may include a shaft made from extruded magnesium. In another embodiment, a “C” style clamp may be made with the “C” shaped frame being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In a further embodiment, a bar clamp having trigger indexing may me made with one or both of two jaw members or sections being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In a variation, the bar may be an extruded magnesium.

Abstract: A controlling method for adjusting concentrations of, for example, individual cylinder's exhaust gas constituents to provide engine functions such as catalytic converter diagnosis, increased overall catalytic converter efficiency and rapid catalyst heating, before and/or after initiating closed loop fuel injection control, using a selected temperature sensor location within a low thermal mass catalytic converter design.

Abstract: A multilayer substrate according to the present invention includes a plurality of laminated insulating layers and conductive patterns formed between the respective insulating layers. The conductive patterns include a first conductive pattern having a predetermined thickness and a second conductive pattern thicker than the first conductive pattern. The first and second conductive patterns are located in the same layer. The first conductive pattern is formed by pattern-etching a conductive layer having a uniform thickness by the subtractive method. The second conductive pattern is formed by forming a pattern-forming groove and then filling the inside of the pattern-forming groove with a conductive material simultaneously with forming a via hole.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simple, efficient and/or cost effective manufacturing and assembly of electronic devices are provided. The various systems and methods of the invention may include various ways of coupling, attaching, and/or connecting the various components of the system to one another, for improved cost and ease of assembly. A number of clips may be used to attach together various parts of an electronic system and housing including circuit devices, enclosure lid and housing, and/or cabling. These clips may be screw-less, may be made of a resilient or spring material, designed so that they quickly snap into place so as to provide good mechanical strength and electrical connection. Various circuit elements may include planar circuits, and may include filters made of a high temperature superconductor material. A planar cable may be used for electrical connecting of components. These systems and devices may be used in, for example, wireless communication systems.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for filter design, analysis and adjustment are provided. Various embodiments may include, for example, methods, systems and apparatus for electric signal filter tuning. Embodiments may also include design techniques for planar electric signal (e.g., RF signals) filter tuning. In at least an embodiment of the present invention a technique for filter tuning is provided which may include parameter extraction, optimization and tuning recipes techniques that may require only a single permanent filter tuning. In at least another embodiment a system and method of filter design, analysis and adjustment according to the present invention includes use of tuning that may be set using a mechanical scribing tool or a laser trimming device. In at least one other embodiment, a filter tuning technique may be provided and include providing trimming tabs on a resonator edge that may be disconnected or trimmed for filter tuning.

Abstract: A semiconductor IC-embedded module 100 comprises a multilayer substrate 101 having first and second insulating layers 101a and 101b, and a controller IC 012 and memory IC 103 that are embedded in the multilayer substrate 101. A wiring layer 104 is formed as an internal layer in the multilayer substrate 101. Part of the wiring layer 104 constitutes a bus line 104X. The controller IC 102 or memory IC 103 is embedded in the second insulating layer 101b. First and second ground layers 105a and 105b are provided respectively in the first and second insulating layers 101a and 101b. The effect of noise generated by bus lines is reduced, and an additional reduction in noise and a decrease in size and thickness are achieved by laying out bus lines that connect the semiconductor ICs so that distances are minimized.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrappers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in one embodiment, a trowel blade may have at least one texturing edge that has been at least partially heat treated.

Abstract: A method and system for providing expatriate risk management are disclosed. The method includes receiving intelligence from at least one intelligence source, receiving asset information, and generating a risk assessment report based on the intelligence and an employee profile.

Abstract: A hard disk drive is provided with a platter, a spindle motor for driving the platter, an arm with a magnetic head attached to a distal end thereof, a voice coil motor for driving the arm, a first circuit substrate, and a drive casing for accommodating and electrically shielding the platter, spindle motor, arm, voice coil motor, and first circuit substrate. The first circuit substrate has a multilayer substrate, a plurality of digital ICs that are embedded as bare chips in the multilayer substrate, and a bus line for connecting the digital ICs. The digital ICs are disposed in a mutually horizontal configuration.

Abstract: A controlling method for adjusting concentrations of, for example, individual cylinder's exhaust gas constituents to provide engine functions such as catalytic converter diagnosis, increased overall catalytic converter efficiency and rapid catalyst heating, before and/or after initiating closed loop fuel injection control, using a selected temperature sensor location within a low thermal mass catalytic converter design.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are lightweight, high quality, durable, rigid and strong. For example, various tools used to level items and/or as a straight edge for aligning or drawing lines on items may be designed in an improved or augmented I beam style so that they are lightweight, strong, durable and rigid so as to hold their shape under stress or return to their original shape after being stressed. In various exemplary embodiments, the I beam style level and/or straight edge may have a first main elongated side to which two elongated perpendicular sides are connected or coupled. At least one or more higher strength elongated sides, for example a second elongate side, may be comprised of a closed or box shaped side. For example, the second elongated side may be, for example, a box shaped construction.