Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.

Abstract: In a method of operating a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal composition with smectic-A properties, a first waveform is applied to optically clear the device so that it is substantially transparent to visible light and a second waveform is applied to disorder the material of the liquid crystal composition to afford a strongly light-scattering state. The first waveform has a higher frequency than the second, waveform, and the method comprises applying a modified waveform to partially clear at least a portion of the device from the light-scattering state.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine comprising a housing wherein the housing comprises one or more coolant passages for receiving a coolant to cool the turbocharger and one or more lubricant passages for receiving a lubricant to lubricate the bearings. The lubricant may be the lubricant for both the turbocharger bearings and the internal combustion engine. The coolant passages and lubricant passages in the turbocharger may be arranged in the housing to transfer heat from the lubricant to the coolant such that the transfer of heat between the coolant passages and lubricant passages is sufficient to cool the lubricant to a temperature that is suitable for subsequent use in the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An intercooler for an internal combustion engine has a fin-and-tube block including a plurality of flat heat transfer units having internal fluid passages orientated transversely to the direction of air flow, and arranged parallel to one another to define gaps therebetween. Fin units are disposed in the gaps and contact adjacent heat transfer units. Each fin unit defines a longitudinally-oriented air flow passage, the air flow passages having a first air flow area at an air inlet end and a second air flow area at an air outlet end, the first air flow area greater than the second air flow area. The fins of the fin units converge in the direction of the air flow through the passage so that the pitch of the fins at the air inlet end of is greater than the pitch of the fins at the air outlet end.

Abstract: A method for discovering a group defined by a common characteristic is disclosed. The method includes building representation of a portion of a social network based on a starting person with the given characteristic, the person also providing the person's gender and school affiliation. The social network representation is then searched to discover clusters therein meeting certain size and connectivity requirements with respect to the network. After the clusters in the network are discovered, clusters having a high degree of similarity are merged together. The resulting clusters, both merged and non-merged, are then scored to determine the cluster that best fits the original group. The winning cluster is then returned to the starting person who confirms the correctness of the cluster. The set of the persons in a confirmed cluster are then displayed to the starting person.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.

Abstract: The ultrasonic inspectability of a supplied part out of which a final component is to be machined is determined by following a set of inspection rules for ultrasonic inspection of the supplied part. The rules determine which parts of the polygon cannot be inspected by a scan at a given ultrasound beam angle (typical beam angles are 0°, +20° and ?20° relative to the perpendicular direction to the edge) along a given edge of the polygon.

Abstract: The present invention pertains generally two mechanical connectors for connection of two components designed to enable single handed operation. The connector comprises a female body having a longitudinal axis comprising a first body portion and a second body portion arranged to communicate to define a receiving chamber for receipt of a male engaging member. At least one retaining clip is provided for retaining a male engaging member in the receiving chamber, the at least one retaining clip being moveable between an opening configuration for receipt of a male engaging member and a closed configuration for restraining movement of a male engaging member in the longitudinal axis. The first and second body portion are arranged to retain the at least one clip there between. This enables fast assembly of a light weight, effective connector.

Abstract: A cast exhaust manifold for an engine is disclosed that is fastened to the engine by a number of independent flanges between each pair of which a spacer is positioned to produce an interference fit when the exhaust manifold is at ambient temperature. The use of independent flanges allow the exhaust manifold to expand when heated without creating high levels of internal stress and the spacers prevent undue distortion of the exhaust manifold when the exhaust manifold cools.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine comprising a housing wherein the housing comprises one or more coolant passages for receiving a coolant to cool the turbocharger and one or more lubricant passages for receiving a lubricant to lubricate the bearings. The lubricant may be the lubricant for both the turbocharger bearings and the internal combustion engine. The coolant passages and lubricant passages in the turbocharger may be arranged in the housing to transfer heat from the lubricant to the coolant such that the transfer of heat between the coolant passages and lubricant passages is sufficient to cool the lubricant to a temperature that is suitable for subsequent use in the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A liquid crystal smectic A composition that can be switched by the application of different electric fields across it between a first stable state (left hand block in FIG. 4) and at least one second stable state (right hand block in FIG. 4) in which the composition is less ordered than in the first state. The radiation transmission properties of the first and second states are different.

Abstract: In a method of operating a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal composition with smectic-A properties, a first waveform is applied to optically clear the device so that it is substantially transparent to visible light and a second waveform is applied to disorder the material of the liquid crystal composition to afford a strongly light-scattering state.

Abstract: The present, invention relates to liquid crystal compositions having a smectic A structure for use in an optical device in which the composition is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes (12-15). In essence the composition includes a siloxane oligomer (component (a)) which may be seen to construct a layered SmA system of particular spacing and “strength”. Within this structure a low molar mass nematic mesogen (component (c)) is provided that may be considered to be that of a “plasticiser” which moderates the layer “strength”, while simultaneously providing tuneability to the properties of the composition, e.g. its refractive index or dielectric anisotropy. The addition of a side chain liquid crystal polysiloxane (component (d)) allows such systems to be further moderated since they can be considered as binding together the la>¾rs, both within a given layer and between layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a three-layer plastic film that is permeable to carbon dioxide but slightly impermeable to oxygen, as packing for liquid or semi-liquid products which produce gas. When the plastic film is reinforced with a uniformly perforated second plastic film, the resulting material is suitable for the manufacture of packaging for the storage of liquid or semi-liquid products containing yeasts, such as cream yeast.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.

Abstract: A swarf collection device for use with a motor driven nibbler, the nibbler including an elongate die holder to which a die is attached and having a longitudinal bore in which a punch reciprocates, the die defining a nibbler gap into which a base material is at least partially received in order to be punched, the swarf collection device including a receptacle with a detachable lid, the lid having a substantially planar upper surface portion and a swarf opening therethrough, the lid attachable to the die holder of the nibbler below the nibbler gap.

Abstract: A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation has an I?SmA*?SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15° C. to about 35° C., a tilt angle of about 22.5°±6° or about 45°±6°, a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2., and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.