Abstract: An actuator arm for a hard-disk drive (HDD) is disclosed. A piezoelectric element is disposed within a well of an actuator arm. The piezoelectric element is aligned with a neutral axis of the actuator arm.

Abstract: An initial velocity accelerating tube includes an outer pipe. Two ends of the outer pipe are connected with a stop member and a connection member, respectively. An inner pipe is provided in the outer pipe. Two ends of the inner pipe are inserted in the stop member and the connection member, respectively. When the initial velocity accelerating tube is mounted on a toy gun, one end of the inner pipe is against the front end of the barrel of the toy gun by the elastic force of the elastic member so as to tightly connect the barrel, providing an airtight effect. The barrel can be lengthened. To have a shoot with the long-barreled gun, the bullet can have a longer route to accelerate for getting a higher initial velocity.

Abstract: Devices, apparatus, methods, circuits and processors are implemented for control of audio signals. Consistent with one such apparatus, a processor circuit is configured and arranged to determine, for a perceived loudness algorithm that outputs audio signal levels, a common point corresponding to a particular background noise level at which the levels of the audio signal levels are independent of a volume setting that corresponds to desired perceived loudness, and to determine an audio signal level from the perceived loudness algorithm in response to a background noise signal, a volume setting signal, and the common point. An audio signal level output circuit is configured and arranged to provide an audio signal at the determined audio signal level.

Abstract: A method for converting an aromatic aldehyde or a mixture of aromatic aldehydes to a reaction product in a reaction medium that is free from xylene. The reaction product may be an aromatic acyl halide or a mixture of aromatic acyl halides. The method includes bringing the aromatic aldehyde or mixture of aromatic aldehydes in contact with a halogen to obtain the reaction product.

Abstract: An imprint lithography method is disclosed that includes, after imprinting an imprint lithography template into a layer of imprintable medium to form a pattern in that imprintable medium and fixing that pattern to form a patterned layer of imprintable medium, adding etch resistant material (i.e. a hard mask) to a part of the patterned layer of imprintable medium to reduce a difference between an intended topography and an actual topography of that part of the patterned layer of imprintable medium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a security hang tag that includes a body, a head and a strap. The body includes a head-receiving compartment defining a circumferentially-extending flange. The head includes a circumferentially-extending lip to engage the flange, capturing the lip within the compartment such that the head is rotatably secured to the body. The head has a first strap-receiving channel including a first locking shoulder and a second strap-receiving channel including a second locking shoulder. The strap has first and second ends and includes a first cavity at the first end and a second cavity at the second end. The first end is configured for insertion within the first strap-receiving channel until the first cavity engages the first locking shoulder and the second end is configured for insertion within the second strap-receiving channel until the second cavity engages the second locking shoulder.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions relating to a hot melt adhesive that includes a copolymer of butene-1, a wax, and a tackifying resin. The present invention further relates to adhesives initially exhibiting adhesion properties and subsequently non-adhesion qualities. Methods of using these adhesives are also part of the claimed invention.

Abstract: An audio comparison method and apparatus compares audio streams by measuring the times of volume peaks in the audio streams and identifying correlations between the peaks in the audio streams, subject to possible delay between the streams. The audio comparison allows the identification of audio streams including the same audio content even in the presence of delay and distortion and using low processing power. The audio comparison has particular application in car radios to allow automatic retuning.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rail weld treatment device for improving a resulting microstructure in and around an effected zone of a rail weld and of rails surrounding the rail weld. The device includes, but is not limited to a fixture clamping and centering assembly for engaging a rail head of a rail and a heating and cooling device connected with the fixture clamping and centering assembly to be positioned over the rail head. The fixture clamping and centering assembly comprises an engagement member which removably engages the rail head. The heating and cooling device includes a heating member for heating an effected zone of the rail weld and a cooling member for cooling the effected zone.

Abstract: A drive pin mechanical fastener is disclosed and has an elongate body extending from a head. A frustoconical indicator shroud is disposed about the elongate body and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the indicator shroud is arranged about the elongate body proximate the head and the second end extends away from the head. The indicator shroud is movable from a first position, where the indicator shroud is frustoconical, to a second position, where the indicator shroud is flattened and exposed and thereby provides an indicator to an installer that the drive pin is properly installed.

Abstract: A system and method for asset management that includes receiving from a client, an EIR terminal that includes an optical reading device configured to output the signal and/or results of decodable indicia and has an RFID receiver which outputs a first datum and a second datum. The invention includes locating the decodable indicia within the signal to reveal identifying information about an asset. The first datum identifies one or more of the RFIDs tag in closest proximity to the asset. These RFID tags are affixed to different known locations in a facility; every location within the facility is within the broadcast radius of at least one RFID tag. The second datum identifies at least one RFID tag in closest proximity to the asset.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and a data storage device are provided for implementing data track pitch adjustment for data written on a recordable surface of a storage device under operational vibration conditions. An operational vibration disturbance spectrum is detected during a write operation and the data track pitch is selectively adjusted based on the detected operational vibration disturbance spectrum. The adjusted track pitch information is saved and used during a read operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the determination of the colour of a colour sample from an image of the colour sample. In one embodiment a colour sample capture card is provided having printed thereon colour samples of known colour (for example, XYZ tri-stimulus values). An image of the test colour sample is then captured using domestically available equipment, such as a consumer digital camera or camera-equipped mobile telephone, the image also containing the colour sample capture card. In one embodiment the image is then transmitted to a remote colour determination service for colour sample colour determination. Regression analysis is then performed using the RGB colour samples in the image and known XYZ colours thereof to characterise the colour capture response of the image capture device. Having characterised the image capture device the XYZ colour of the unknown colour sample can be determined from the RGB colour thereof in the image.

Abstract: In immersion lithography after exposure of a substrate is complete, a detector is used to detect any residual liquid remaining on the substrate and/or substrate table.

Abstract: A deboner and method of deboning poultry parts is provided. An exemplary embodiment includes an infeed for the poultry parts moving in a conveying direction, and a conveyor line that is synchronized with the infeed and having a series of carriers for receiving each single poultry part in a single carrier while the poultry parts are moving in their conveying direction. Each of the carriers can be embodied with two movable, preferably swivable arms, having an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position of the carrier ensures that a poultry part is accurately received in said carrier. The closed position of the two movable arms of the carrier ensures a fixing in position of the poultry thigh received in the carrier to promote an accurate, subsequent deboning of the poultry part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable ophthalmic lens comprising at least one optical element comprising a combination of at least two optical surfaces wherein both optical surfaces are chiral optical surfaces adapted to provide chiral modulation of the light beam, the combination of the chiral optical surfaces is adapted to provide at least one adjustable focus and the combination of the chiral optical surfaces is adapted such that the focal distance of the adjustable foci depends on the mutual position of the chiral optical surfaces. These chiral optical surfaces result in a chiral modulation of the light beam. Combinations of chiral optical surfaces are applied to obtain adjustable optical powers in single-focus ophthalmic lenses and multiple-focus ophthalmic lenses.

Abstract: Injection molded polymeric part produced from a polymer composition comprising polyamide 410 (PA-410) and less than 1.5 weight % of a mold release agent. In a preferred embodiment the polymer composition contains less than 1 wt. % of a mold release agent.

Abstract: A reduced dimensions platform (1) for the landing of an aircraft on an access facility (B) having a support base (2), suitable to be fixed on a reference surface (P) belonging to said access facility (B), and a landing footboard (3), superiorly connected with said support base (2) and suitable to receive said aircraft. Specifically, the landing footboard (3) includes a central body (4), coupled with support base (2), and a plurality of peripheral panels (5), operatively connected with drive means (6) which move the peripheral panels (5) from/to a rest position, in which said peripheral panels (5) are contained within the dimensions of the central body (4), to/from an operating position, in which the peripheral panels (5) projects laterally from the central body (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for realizing a vacuum in at least one vacuum chamber. The method comprises providing an arrangement comprising a plurality of vacuum chambers, wherein each vacuum chamber is connected to a shared vacuum system. The shared vacuum system comprises a plurality of turbo molecular pumps, at least one common fore pump, and a piping system comprising one or more pipes for connecting the at least one common fore pump to each of the plurality of turbo molecular pumps. Each turbo molecular pump is separately connected to a corresponding vacuum chamber. The piping system further comprises flow regulators for controlling a flow within the piping system. The method further comprises selecting at least one vacuum chamber for pump-down, and separately pumping down the at least one selected vacuum chamber by means of the shared vacuum system.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving fetal and child health and development through nutritional supplementation with, for example, sialic acid. Sialic acid can be provided to a female before, during and/or after pregnancy to improve the health and development of a fetus and/or child. The sialic acid can be in a variety of forms in the supplements.