Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for facilitating trading two items (L,Q) from the group of items comprising commodities and financial instruments. At least two agents (2) want to trade the items (L,Q). There is a trading channel (3) between the two agents (2) allowing for the execution of trades. There are flow (trading) limits on the items being traded. A central computer (1) is coupled to the two agents (2). Said computer (1) is adapted to convey to each agent (2) current tradable bid and offered prices and sizes subject to the agent's (2) trading limits.

Abstract: A process for forming a thin film is described that enables automatic formation of thin films having constant optical properties reliably and in large quantities with excellent reproducibility suitable for mass production. An apparatus for performing the process is also described. Generally, a material for vapor deposition is vaporized by an electron gun and an antireflection film forms by vapor deposition on lenses held by a coat dome. The electric power applied to the electron gun is controlled so that the amount of transmitted or reflected light continuously measured by an optical film thickness meter during thin film formation is compared to a reference amount of measured light stored in a means for storing data until the measured and reference amounts of measured light are close to, or the same as, one another.

Abstract: A computerized banking system for handling dual accounts is disclosed. A bank database has transaction information for number one and two accounts. The computer is programmed to generate separate statements for at least the number two account, which first and second statements are provided to the number two account holder. The number one account holder does not have access to the first statement of transactions to maintain independence and privacy, but only to the second statement including specific fund transactions from said number one account. Communication between the account holders is provided by the computer through wireless devices, and the statements are generated in electronic form. The computerized method comprises related steps.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a high coercive force and being capable of high-density writing/reading has a substrate, a soft magnetic layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a magnetic layer, a protective layer, and a lubricating layer. The magnetic layer is characterized by stacking fault density and dispersion of particle diameters. The stacking fault density should preferably be no larger than 0.05, and the dispersion of particle diameters should preferably be no larger than 0.4. The magnetic recording medium has a coercive force larger than 4000 Oe, is highly stable to thermal decay, and has a recording density in excess of 50 Gbit/in2.

Abstract: A method of applying a moisture barrier seal to a fiber optic coil includes mounting a fiber optic coil in a vacuum deposition chamber, so as to expose a large exterior surface area of the fiber optic coil to an interior portion of the deposition chamber. The method further includes reducing the air pressure within the chamber to a value that is less than ambient pressure outside of the chamber. The method further includes introducing a vapor form of a non-porous material, preferably parylene, into the chamber. The vapor form of the non-porous material changes into a solid state upon contact with the fiber optic coil, so as to form a conformal coat on the fiber optic coil.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-driven reservation system for reserving spaces in a parking facility at an airport terminal. The reservation system comprises a central server, a database of locations and associated plurality of spaces, which may be reserved for customer use, and one or more customer terminals on which is displayed a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving a customer's reservation request and enabling other customer interactions. The central server, database and customer terminals are interlinked via a network. The central server includes a reservation utility that provides a reservation GUI and a printable reservation coupon with reservation information when a space is reserved. In one embodiment, central server comprises an auction utility that monitors the number of spaces available in a particular location and when the number falls below a predetermined number, implements an auction procedure for all of the remaining number of spaces.

Abstract: An on-line payment system comprises a computer system which can maintain accounts in a database for a plurality of users. The system is enrolled as a payee in a bill payment system so that users can transfer funds from their bank accounts to electronic cash accounts in the system by making a bill payment to the system. The bill payment is deposited in a bank account maintained by the operator of the system. The system includes a double-entry, net zero accounting system which ensures that electronic cash in the accounts on the system is supported by actual cash on deposit in the bank account of the system. Users can spend electronic cash before the system actually receives funds via the bill payment system. Electronic cash spent during this period is marked uncleared by the system. The system includes reconciliation software which matches payments received to uncleared electronic cash and marks the electronic cash as being cleared.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making an antiglare stack by vacuum evaporation on an organic substrate (1) at a temperature lower than 150° C., comprising steps which consist in depositing at least a layer of material having a refractive index different from that of MgF2 (4, 4?), preparing the surface of the thus coated substrate, and depositing an outer MgF2 layer (5) without ionic assistance. The resulting antiglare stack on organic substrate exhibits good adherence and good scratch resistance. The invention is applicable to ophthalmic lenses.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for the production of sub-micron structures on magnetic materials using electron beam lithography. A subtractive process is disclosed wherein a portion of a magnetic material layer is removed from the substrate using conventional lithography, and the remaining portion of the magnetic material layer is patterned by e-beam lithography. A additive process is also disclosed wherein a thin magnetic seed layer is deposited on the substrate, a portion of which is removed by conventional lithography and replaced with a non-magnetic conducting layer. The remaining portion of magnetic seed layer is patterned by e-beam lithography and the final magnetic structure produced by electroplating.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a ferrous alloy part that supports a very high seizure load with very low dispersion includes steps of covering the part with an iron sulphide coating having an appropriate thickness and Fe/S ratio, where the coating is selected from among those with surfaces having a fractal dimension that is at least equal to 2.6.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for assembling a structure onto a substrate. A method according to one aspect of the invention includes dispensing a slurry onto a substrate wherein the slurry includes a first plurality of elements, each of which is designed to mate with a receptor region on said substrate and each of which comprises a functional element. The method further includes dispensing in a flow having a first direction a slurry onto a substrate, wherein the slurry includes a fluid.

Abstract: There is provided a UV-reflective interference layer system for transparent substrates with broadband anti-reflection properties in the visible wavelength range. The interference layer system includes at least four individual layers. Successive layers have different refractive indices and the individual layers contain UV and temperature-stable inorganic materials.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a support having provided thereon a magnetic layer, wherein a smooth coating layer having a thickness of from 0.10 to 1 ?m, surface roughness of 5 nm or less, and 20 or less per 900 ?m2 of the protrusions having a height of 20 nm or more measured by an interatomic force microscope (AFM) is provided on the surface of at least one side of the support. And a method for producing a magnetic recording medium comprising a support having provided thereon a magnetic layer, which comprises providing a smooth coating layer having a thickness of from 0.10 to 1 ?m, surface roughness of 5 nm or less, and 20 or less per 900 ?m2 of the protrusions having a height of 20 nm or more measured by an interatomic force microscope (AFM) on the surface of at least one side of the support, and forming at least the magnetic layer on the smooth coating layer without performing rolling-up operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for plasma ashing to remove photoresist remnants and etch residues that are formed during preceding plasma etching of dielectric layers. The ashing method uses a two-step plasma process involving an oxygen-containing gas, where low or zero bias is applied to the substrate in the first cleaning step to remove significant amount of photoresist remnants and etch residues from the substrate, in addition to etching and removing detrimental fluoro-carbon residues from the chamber surfaces. An increased bias is applied to the substrate in the second cleaning step to remove the remains of the photoresist and etch residues from the substrate. The two-step process reduces the memory effect commonly observed in conventional one-step ashing processes. A method of endpoint detection can be used to monitor the ashing process.

Abstract: A magnetic disk includes a substrate on which a nonmagnetic metal layer, a magnetic layer, a carbon-based protection layer, an alcohol-based coupling layer, and a lubrication layer successively formed thereon. The lubrication layer contains a hydroxyl- or a carboxyl-modified compound as a lubricating material. The alcohol-based coupling layer contains, for example, lower alcohol as a main component and is deposited on the carbon-based protection layer, for example, by vapor deposition. The alcohol-based coupling layer may be replaced by a layer containing lower alcohol. The carbon-based protection layer may be deposited by plasma CVD.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a cellulose ester film, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer formed of liquid crystal molecules in this order. Alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is fixed. An alkaline solution is coated on a surface of the cellulose ester film to saponify the surface. The saponified surface is coated with a coating solution of the orientation layer.

Abstract: In the condition that an acrylic transparent vessel is filled with a curable resin solution capable of being cured by a light, a plastic optical fiber is immersed in the curable resin solution. A laser beam is applied on the curable resin solution through the plastic optical fiber. The curable resin solution is cured gradually by the laser beam applied on the curable resin solution, so that an axial core is formed. Then, the transparent vessel is left at rest for predetermined time, or uncured part of the curable resin solution is removed from the transparent vessel and the transparent vessel is then filled with another curable resin solution. Then, ultraviolet rays are applied on the transparent vessel from the outside of the transparent vessel to cure the residual uncured part of the curable resin solution.

Abstract: A production method and a production apparatus for a magnetic recording medium, which enable the efficient production of a discrete type magnetic recording medium, while reliably preventing any deterioration of the partitioned recording elements.

Abstract: The method is for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium in which a magnetic coating containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder is applied on a nonmagnetic support. The magnetic coating includes: a magnetic liquid containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder, and an abrasive liquid containing an abrasive and a solvent. The abrasive liquid may further contain the binder. The magnetic liquid and the abrasive liquid are each separately subjected to dispersion treatment, then the abrasive liquid is filtered, and then the magnetic liquid and the abrasive liquid are mixed. The obtained magnetic recording medium has a smooth magnetic layer surface, good electromagnetic conversion properties and excellent running durability and shows little wear of a head.

Abstract: A serpentine tube used in the manufacture of a fluorescent lamp is coated with a reflective or phosphor material. A magnetic material and coating material slurry is placed within one end of a serpentine glass tube. A magnet is placed adjacent the magnetic material and coating material slurry and is moved in a path conforming to the shape of the serpentine tube. The magnet causes the magnetic material and coating material slurry to travel along therewith, coating a portion of the interior surface of the serpentine tube with a reflective, phosphor, or other material. In another embodiment of the invention, abrasive magnetic material is placed within the serpentine lamp for removing a previously coated material resulting in an aperture being formed. The present invention is particularly suited to the manufacture of serpentine fluorescent lamps that are used to illuminate flat panel displays.