Abstract: A student loan consolidation qualification system and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the student loan consolidation qualification system includes: (1) an input module, associated with an Internet site, that presents at least one page to a loan applicant to assist the loan applicant in providing personal and student loan information pertaining to a plurality of student loans made to the loan applicant and (2) a qualification module, associated with the input module, that assesses the personal information to determine a personal qualification of the loan applicant and assesses the student loan information pertaining to the plurality of student loans to determine a loan qualification of the loan applicant, the qualification module qualifying the loan applicant and informing the loan applicant and a loan consolidator only if the personal qualification and the loan qualification are positive.

Abstract: A method of forming an alignment layer for a liquid crystal display device is disclosed, which includes preparing a substrate; coating the substrate with an alignment material for initial alignment of liquid crystal; rubbing the substrate coated with the alignment material; and applying a field flux to the substrate coated with the alignment material. The alignment material is aligned in a direction determined by the direction of the applied field flux.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive element having a magnetization pinned layer, a magnetization free layer, and a spacer layer including an insulating layer provided between the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer and current paths penetrating into the insulating layer. A process of forming the spacer layer in the method includes depositing a first metal layer forming the metal paths, depositing a second metal layer on the first metal layer, performing a pretreatment of irradiating the second metal layer with an ion beam or a RF plasma of a rare gas, and converting the second metal layer into the insulating layer by means of supplying an oxidation gas or a nitriding gas.

Abstract: A method of plating on a glass substrate allowing an electroless plating film with good adhesiveness to be formed by chemically bonding a silane coupling agent in a state of simple adhesion or hydrogen bond to the surface of the glass substrate through dehydration condensation reaction, and a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium using the plating method. In the plating method, electroless plating is performed on a glass substrate after sequentially conducting at least the adhesion layer formation that forms an adhesion layer using a silane coupling agent solution, catalyst layer formation, a catalyst activation, and a drying that chemically bonds the silane coupling agent in the adhesion layer to the surface of the glass substrate.

Abstract: A method of wet coating for applying an anti-reflective film to a substrate comprises the following steps: (1) providing and cleaning a substrate; (2) preparing a coating solution comprised of a highly volatile solvent and a film-forming compound dissolved in the highly volatile solvent; (3) coating the substrate homogeneously with the above coating solution at normal temperature and confirming complete evaporation of the liquid on the substrate at normal temperature to finish a single layer coating without thermal treatment; and (4) repeating the above coating step as required to obtain a desired number of layers.

Abstract: A system for coating a substrate surface with a diffuser coating includes an ultrasonic vibrating device, a supply device and a low pressure air source. The supply device supplies a liquid coating material or precursor solution to the ultrasonic vibrating device. The ultrasonic vibrating device is operable to vibrate to atomize the coating material and to discharge airborne particles at a discharge end of the ultrasonic vibrating device. The low pressure air source generates low pressure air flow generally proximate to the discharge end to guide at least some of the airborne particles onto the substrate surface. The ultrasonic vibrating device may be at a coating chamber and the substrate may be positionable within the coating chamber. A conveyor may be operable to convey substrates through the coating chamber, whereby the coating particles are guided onto the substrate surface as the substrate moves through the coating chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an electroconductive cellulose-based film having high uniformity and transparency and excellent in optical properties while preventing a bleaching phenomenon at the time of forming an electroconductive layer. The method of producing an electroconductive cellulose-based film according to the present invention is a method of producing an electroconductive cellulose-based film by coating a cellulose-based film with a coating solution containing a binder, superfine particles and a solvent to form an electroconductive layer thereon, wherein the coating solution comprises at least one kind of glycol monoalkyl ether-based solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, and propylene glycol monoethyl ether in an amount of 20 to 40% by weight based on the total solvent, and a ketone-based solvent in an amount of 20 to 50% by weight based on the total solvent.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a one-way transparent optical system designed to transmit almost 100% of internal light while effectively blocking radiation of external light. The method includes: forming bead-shaped light absorbing elements; dispersing the light absorbing elements over a soft transparent film; and curing the soft transparent film to fix the dispersed light absorbing elements onto the transparent film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using carpet scraps to improve paint coating durability. Waste carpeting may be collected that may be formed from one or more of the materials polyamides, polyesters, polyurethane's, nylon and the like. The face yarn and nap material may be removed from the backing material of the waste carpeting. The face yarn and nap material may be mixed in a paint at a ratio of 50% or less by volume and in a manner to produce a generally uniform distribution of the face yarn and nap material in the paint.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a birefringent film that can reduce the amount of a remaining solvent in the birefringent film without degrading appearance uniformity or an alignment in its thickness direction. The method of the present invention for manufacturing an optical film includes the steps of: coating a base with a polymer solution obtained by dissolving a polyimide-containing polymer in a solvent so as to form a coating film; and drying the coating film so as to form a birefringent film, in which the drying step includes at least two stages of drying processes. The drying step preferably include two stages of the drying processes, and a temperature in the former stage of the drying process is preferably lower than a temperature in the latter stage of the drying process. If adding a step of providing the birefringent film with an anisotropy of a refractive index in an in-plane direction, a birefringent film with an optical biaxiality can be manufactured.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium that exhibits high performance and high reliability includes forming a liquid lubricant layer capable of high coverage while retaining a film thickness of 1 nm to 2 nm. The magnetic recording medium includes an underlayer, a magnetic layer, a protective layer, and a liquid lubricant layer sequentially laminated or formed on a substrate. The liquid lubricant layer is formed by coating a liquid lubricant diluted with a solvent on the protective layer to a thickness of at least the surface roughness to form a thick film liquid lubricant layer, pressing a slide member against the surface of the liquid lubricant layer while rotating the medium to adhere the liquid lubricant onto the protective layer, and reducing the thickness of the liquid lubricant layer with a solvent that can dissolve the liquid lubricant to the medium surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for forming an organic electro-luminescent device by forming a homogeneous light emitting layer which does not incur the phase separation. The light emitting layer is formed by discharging ink compositions composed of at least two electro-luminescent materials on the substrate following the order which starts with an ink composition which has the fewest number of organic electro-luminescent materials or which is most difficult to be phase separated.

Abstract: Photochromic matrix compositions and tie layer compositions useful for the preparation of photochromic polycarbonate lenses are disclosed. The tie layer compositions facilitate adhesion of the photochromic matrix composition to the polycarbonate lens. The photochromic matrix compositions can contain a flexible hydrophilic dimethacrylate monomer, one or more hydrophobic monomers, a flexible hydrophobic multi(meth)acrylate monomer, one or more urethane methacrylate oligomers, and one or more photochromic dyes. The tie layer compositions can contain one or more methacrylate monomers, a (meth)acrylated oligomer with a polycarbonate backbone, one or more urethane methacrylate oligomers, and a solvent or solvent mixture. Methods of preparing photochromic polycarbonate lenses are also disclosed, involving the serial application of the tie layer composition, then the photochromic matrix composition to the lens.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating an ophthalmic lens comprising two main sides, wherein at least one side comprises an organic or mineral external layer coated with a MgF2 temporary protective layer, comprising one of the following treating steps: a liquid phase chemical treatment of the temporary protective layer, leading to the formation of MgO and/or Mg(OH)2 in and/or on the temporary protective layer; or a deposit of at least one non-fluorinated metallic oxide and/or of at least one non fluorinated metallic hydroxide on the temporary protective layer through transfer thereof from an electrostatic film or through vacuum evaporation thereof directly on the temporary protective layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controllably dispensing photoresist solutions and other fluids in semiconductor manufacturing equipment from an array of syringe-based fluid dispensers. A multi-syringe fluid dispensing system is provided for photoresist coating within a wafer track coating module. The coating module may contain a spin chuck that is positioned within a catch cup. A robotic dispense arm and gripper assembly may be positioned within the coating module for gripping and positioning a fluid syringe. An array of syringes may be stored on a solution tray within the wafer track coating module for holding a plurality of fluid syringes containing photoresist solutions.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for maskless deposition of electronic and biological materials. The process is capable of direct deposition of features with linewidths varying from the micron range up to a fraction of a millimeter, and may be used to deposit features on substrates with damage thresholds near 100° C. Deposition and subsequent processing may be carried out under ambient conditions, eliminating the need for a vacuum atmosphere. The process may also be performed in an inert gas environment. Deposition of and subsequent laser post processing produces linewidths as low as 1 micron, with sub-micron edge definition. The apparatus nozzle has a large working distance—the orifice to substrate distance may be several millimeters—and direct write onto non-planar surfaces is possible.

Abstract: A method that includes providing a lens having a first side, a second side, and an anti-reflective or mirror coating on the first side; depositing a heat-curable coating on the second side of the lens; and heating the heat-curable coating without damaging the anti-reflective or mirror coating. Another method that includes providing a non-pure polycarbonate lens having a first side, a second side, and a first coating on the first side; depositing a heat-curable coating on the second side of the lens; and heating the heat-curable coating without damaging the first coating. Other methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A film forming apparatus by which property values in a film formed by the AD method can be improved. The film forming apparatus includes: a chamber having a substrate stage for holding a substrate on which a film is to be formed; an aerosol generating unit for generating an aerosol by dispersing a raw material powder into a gas; a magnetic field applying device for applying a magnetic field to a flow path of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating unit so as to orient crystal orientation in the raw material powder in an aerosol state; and an injection nozzle for spraying the aerosol applied with the magnetic field by the magnetic field applying device to the substrate so as to deposit the raw material powder, in which the crystal orientation is oriented, on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical element includes: preparing an optical substrate; coating a curable resin on the optical substrate so as to form a curable resin layer on the optical substrate; embossing the curable resin layer so as to form a plurality of adjoining pointed micro-protrusions, each of which has a tip end; heating the pointed micro-protrusions of the curable resin layer in such a manner that the tip end of each of the pointed micro-protrusions is softened and is spread over the remainder of the respective one of the pointed micro-protrusions so as to form the adjoining pointed micro-protrusions into adjoining rounded micro-protrusions which cooperatively form a continuous curved surface; and curing the curable resin layer.

Abstract: Techniques for attaining high performance magnetic memory devices are provided. In one aspect, a magnetic memory device comprising one or more free magnetic layers is provided. The one or more free magnetic layers comprise a low magnetization material adapted to have a saturation magnetization of less than or equal to about 600 electromagnetic units per cubic centimeter. The device may be configured such that a ratio of mean switching field associated with an array of non-interacting magnetic memory devices and a standard deviation of the switching field is greater than or equal to about 20. The magnetic memory device may comprise a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device. A method of producing a magnetic memory device is also provided.