Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical recording medium of the present invention includes the steps of forming an underlying layer having a brightness of 8 or more and a chroma of 4 or less on a label surface of a disk body by a spin coating process, and forming an ink-receiving layer on the underlying layer. In the present invention, the underlying layer having a brightness of 8 or more and a chroma of 4 or less is formed by a spin coating process, thereby significantly decreasing the surface roughness of the underlying layer. Even if the ink-receiving layer is formed by the spin coating or slit coating process in which the surface quality of the underlying layer is greatly reflected, therefore, the average surface roughness (Ra) of the ink-receiving layer can be significantly decreased. Thus, printing by an ink jet printer can produce a color and brilliance close to those of a silver salt photograph.

Abstract: A transmitter for radio control with rotary control means on its both sides is provided.

Abstract: An electrically activated surgical device includes a probe body, an active element and a structure for selectively electrically insulating and/or physically isolating the active element from the patient's tissue when the device is in use. The probe body defines an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a window defined within the outer surface near or at the distal end. The active element is electrically connected to a power source and is configured to selectively assume a non-deployed configuration and a variable deployed configuration in which the active element at least partially emerges from the window out of the probe body. The insulating structure selectively insulates the active element from the patient's tissue when the device is inserted therein.

Abstract: A computer-implemented and Internet-based method of managing Accounts Receivable (AR) information includes steps of receiving a customer request for remote Internet access to AR information (such as pending invoices) owned by vendor; retrieving the customer's AR information from a database and enabling the retrieved AR information to be remotely displayed for the customer and enabling the vendor's internal personnel to retrieve and to display the customer's AR information simultaneously as the AR information is displayed for the customer. The customer may dispute an invoice accessed from the database by accessing the vendor's Web site and by selecting a reason code for the dispute and at least a disputed amount to create a pending Credit Memo Request, all without direct manual involvement from the vendor.

Abstract: An electric screwdriver with automatic screw feeding includes a shaft defining a bit; a body portion, the body portion defining a screw conduit configured to receive the bit; a screw feeder tube; a vacuum coupler, and a screw holding assembly. At least a distal portion of the screw feeder tube between a middle region and distal end may be oriented such that a screw can pass therethrough under a force of gravity. The vacuum coupler may be coupled to the middle region of the screw feeder tube, and may be configured to couple to a vacuum generator. The screw holding assembly may be adjacent the screw conduit and may be configured to receive and hold a screw in a position for engagement by the bit.

Abstract: A film bulk acoustic wave resonator of the invention includes a substrate; a resonant structure provided on the substrate constituted by a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film and an upper electrode; and an acoustic multilayer of a plurality of reflective films provided between the substrate and the resonant structure. At least one of the reflective films of the acoustic multilayer has a specified crystal plane orientation, and an X-ray rocking curve full width at half maximum that is preferably not greater than 10 degrees, and more preferably is not greater than 3 degrees. This makes it possible to obtain better resonance characteristics than in the case of the prior art, by increasing the efficiency with which bulk waves propagating towards the substrate are reflected.

Abstract: A computer-implemented draft authentication method for use in e-commerce includes the steps of establishing partner relationships between a financial institution and a plurality of World Wide Web (Web) vendors and storing, for each of a plurality of Web customers, at least one piece of unique identifying information linked to the Web customer's financial information. Web customers executing drafts or causing drafts to be executed by the Web vendors and presented to the financial institution are authenticated by immediately encrypting at least a portion of an identification data set provided by the Web customer over the network and by successfully matching the immediately encrypted identification data set with the stored piece(s) of encrypted identifying information. The Web customer's financial information is then retrieved only by the financial institution and constraints are established based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: A method of partitioning a schema object containing Web server log file data that includes a plurality of dated entries. Existing partitions within the schema object are identified, as well as the date associated with each existing partition. Unique dates of the entries within the log file data are also identified. A separate partition within the schema object is then automatically created for a) each identified unique date of the entries within the log file data that is not associated with an identified existing partition, and for b) each date immediately preceding each date in a) unless the partition has previously been created. This method avoids splitting loaded partitions when the Web server log file data is loaded out of turn.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk and a head stack assembly. The head stack assembly includes an actuator arm assembly that includes first and second stamped actuator arms. The first stamped actuator arm may include a first arm portion, a first body portion and a coil-supporting portion for supporting a coil of a VCM. The first body portion defines a first contact surface. The second stamped actuator arm may include a second arm portion and a second body portion, the second body portion defining a second contact surface. According to one embodiment, the first and second stamped actuator arms may be attached to one another such that the first contact surface faces and contacts the second contact surface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of searching for exact and non-exact matches in a first database includes steps of transforming and standardizing values of selected attributes stored in the first database according to selected first transformation functions while maintaining the first database unchanged; storing the transformed and standardized values of the selected attributes in a second database that is separate from the first database; providing an input record against which to compare contents of the second database; transforming and standardizing values of selected attributes of the provided input record according to selected second transformation functions, and searching only the second database for at least one of exact and non-exact matches to the transformed and standardized values of the selected attributes of the input record according to selected match rules.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of categorizing a customer includes steps of selecting a measure on which the status of the customer is to be analyzed, selecting a calculation period and selecting a comparison method. A lifecycle factor may then be computed, the lifecycle factor being related to both the size and the growth of the customer according to the selected measure. Both the size and growth are determined over two selected calculation periods using the selected comparison method. Selected customers may then be categorized into one of a plurality of lifecycle stages by evaluating a plurality of categorization criteria, at least one of the plurality of categorization criteria including the computed lifecycle factor. For example, the lifecycle stages may include the stages of New, Growing, Stable, Declining, Defected and/or Insignificant.

Abstract: A method of scheduling and making material time balancing decisions for a set of balanced tasks. The method includes steps of scheduling a first task from among the set of tasks, maintaining a reversible buffer over the interval, values of which over the time interval define a buffer profile. The buffer profile indicates the balance of items consumed by already scheduled tasks over the time interval. The next task to be scheduled is then selected from among all schedulable tasks of the set of tasks. A schedulable task is defined as a task that produces a quantity of items that is less than or equal to the balance of items consumed by the already scheduled tasks, as indicated by the buffer profile. The selected task may then be scheduled such that the end time of the selected task is latest.

Abstract: A method for a financial services provider to securely process corporate payment requests includes a step of issuing a primary digital certificate to a primary certificate holder of a corporation. The primary certificate authorizes the primary certificate holder to designate a plurality of holders of secondary digital certificates that are derivative from the primary certificate, each of the primary and plurality of secondary certificates including unique identifying information and/or an indication of authority of the holder of the certificate. Pending corporate payment requests are collected for clearing against the account of the corporation, and a pending payment statement is periodically generated, the statement including the collected pending payment requests.

Abstract: A pollutant containment system for containing the spillage of fuels or other hydrocarbons or the like comprises a first layer (14, 60), a containment vessel (16) for receiving liquid passing through the layer (14) and channelling means (22) for directing liquid permeating through the layer towards the containment vessel (16). The layer (14) provides a plurality of active surfaces for the retention of pollutant and is such as to cause water to permeate through the layer at a flow rate to avoid emulsification of oil and water. Water is introduced into and removed from the containment vessel to raise and lower the water surface thereby to cause the pollutant to be smeared over the active surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention compensates for variations in the angular velocity of the drive's spindle motor by periodically dropping clocks to a counter based upon the previous servo wedge-to-wedge timing. This enables a substantially constant count to be maintained between servo wedges and allows a more predictable generation of the data sector pulses. A more predictable generation of the data sector pulses enables the size of the guard band preceding each data sector to be decreased and the capacity of the disk to be correspondingly increased.

Abstract: Devices and methods for collecting or cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of tissue within a patient. The device may include a specimen collection assembly including a flexible membrane that isolates collected specimen from the surrounding tissue. The collection device may also include structures that draw the collected specimen toward the shaft and/or otherwise ease the insertion and retraction of the device and the collected specimen from the patient through a small incision.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing an appearance of electronic documents includes defining a first style sheet, the first style sheet including a style, the style including an attribute and a value associated with the attribute. The defined first style sheet, the attribute and the value may then be stored in a database driven repository at a first identified location. A first linking statement referencing the identified first location may then be generated. The generated first linking statement may then be embedded in a first electronic document such that when the electronic document is rendered, execution of the first linking statement causes the stored first style sheet to be accessed at the identified location and the style included in the first style sheet applied to the first electronic document.

Abstract: The electronic device includes a substrate, a lower conductive film provided on the substrate, a functional film provided on the lower conductive film, and a crystallinity barrier film provided between the lower conductive film and the functional film. The present invention prevents the crystallinity of the functional film being affected by the crystallinity or the material selection of the lower conductive film, so it becomes possible to use a low-cost metal such as aluminum (Al) for the lower conductive film, and to use a low-cost method for forming the film, thereby making it possible to improve the crystallinity of the functional film without using a costly film-formation method such as epitaxial growth. For the crystallinity barrier film, there can be used a material having an amorphous structure.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprises a silica substrate, a buffer layer formed on the silica substrate, cores formed on the buffer layer, and upper cladding layer formed on the buffer layer, covering the cores. The thermal expansion coefficients of the buffer layer and upper cladding layer are set to be substantially equal. As a result, the stresses in the cores are isotropic, effectively suppressing birefringence.