Abstract: A fully automatic deionizer comprising five sub-systems for removing ionic contaminants from various liquids at low energy consumption is devised. Based on the charging-discharging principle of capacitors, the deionizer conducts deionization through applying a low DC voltage to its electrodes for adsorbing ions, while more than 30% of the process energy is recovered and stored by discharging the electrodes. At the mean time of discharge, surface of the electrodes is regenerated on site and reset for performing many more cycles of deionization-regeneration till the desirable purification is attained. In one moment, both deionization and regeneration proceed simultaneously on different groups of electrode modules, and in the next moment the electrode modules quickly switch the two processes. Such swift reciprocating actions are engaged in synchronized coordination of sub-systems of electrode modules, energy management, fluid flow, and automatic control.

Abstract: Deionizers using the electrode configurations of electrochemical capacitors are described, wherein the deionizing process is called capacitive deionization (CDI). During deionization, a DC electric field is applied to the cells and ions are adsorbed on the electrodes with a potential being developed across the electrodes. As electrosorption reaches a maximum or the cell voltage is built up to the applied voltage, the CDI electrodes are regenerated quickly and quantitatively by energy discharge to storage devices such as supercapacitors. In conjunction with a carousel or Ferris wheel design, the CDI electrodes can simultaneously and continuously undergo deionization and regeneration. By the responsive regeneration, the CDI electrodes can perform direct purification on solutions with salt content higher than seawater. More importantly, electrodes are restored, energy is recovered and contaminants are retained at regeneration, while regeneration requires no chemicals and produces no pollution.

Abstract: A method of controlling production quality of a wafer production line. The wafer production line includes a server having a database device, a plurality of manufacturing machines processing corresponding unit processes and a manufacturing executive system coupled to the server controlling the manufacturing machines. When the server determines that the wafers of the current lot do not comply with a predetermined specification, the manufacturing machines handling the wafers can be identified and the manufacturing executive system shuts down the identified manufacturing machines to calibrate parameters thereof. In addition, the wafers of the next lot are directly inspected to verify whether the identified manufacturing machines work well.

Abstract: An interactive exercise apparatus structure comprised of a base, an inclined support structure at the upper extent of the base, and a transport pulley assembly installed above the base. The support structure consists of an arrangement in which one end is on the floor and the other end is angularly positioned on the base. The pull cord of the transport pulley assembly is respectively wrapped around a first pulley at the lateral end of the upper horizontal bar and positioned onto a second pulley at the bottom end of the reclined body rest buttress rod, following which it is wrapped around a third pulley at the other end of the upper horizontal bar, the two free ends of the pull cord then providing the user extremities for exerting a tugging force. The user sits on the reclined body rest with both hands applying an equal force on the pull cord causing the reclined body rest to slide reciprocally on the frame, thereby moving the exerciser seated on the reclined body rest back and forth.

Abstract: Deionizers using the electrode configurations of electrochemical capacitors are described, wherein the deionizing process is called capacitive deionization (CDI). During deionization, a DC electric field is applied to the cells and ions are adsorbed on the electrodes with a potential being developed across the electrodes. As electrosorption reaches a maximum or the cell voltage is built up to the applied voltage, the CDI electrodes are regenerated quickly and quantitatively by energy discharge to storage devices such as supercapacitors. In conjunction with a carousel or Ferris wheel design, the CDI electrodes can simultaneously and continuously undergo deionization and regeneration. By the responsive regeneration, the CDI electrodes can perform direct purification on solutions with salt content higher than seawater. More importantly, electrodes are restored, energy is recovered and contaminants are retained at regeneration, while regeneration requires no chemicals and produces no pollution.

Abstract: A free-standing flow-through capacitor (FTC) is constructed by concentrically winding two electrodes and two dividers into a hollow-center roll. A liquid-feeding pipe is inserted to the central opening for delivering fluids to the FTC. Nanoparticles of hydrated iron compound with Fe3O4 as the main component or its composite powders are used as the active materials for the electrodes. With channels crated by the dividers assembled in the roll, fluids injected from the feed pipe are confined inside the FTC, and flow outwardly and transversely through the entire length of the electrodes. Under an application of a low DC voltage to the electrodes, charged species are adsorbed and removed from the treated liquids as soon as they are in contact with the electrodes. Capacitive deionization using FTC of the present invention is applicable to waste-streams reduction, water purification and desalination at low costs and easy operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a body weight driven treadmill, and when the exerciser steps on the treadmill, the exerciser's body weight acts as a loading to tilt the pedal platform upward from the rear back of the treadmill, since the base of the treadmill has a front supporting rod and a rear supporting rod, wherein the radius of the front supporting rod is slightly smaller than that of the rear supporting rod, and the points of contact tangential to the ground are different. Such arrangement can slightly tilt the exerciser's body forward, until it reaches equilibrium and a stable position. When the treadmill is stepped by our legs alternately, the pressing foot will tilt forward, and twist the exerciser's waist. Such body weight driven treadmill is a simple and easy-to-assemble structure and does not occupy much space.

Abstract: A combination of a radio with an earphone and a ball-point pen comprises: a lower housing in which a pen core is disposed; a hollow upper housing being provided with an upper thread hole and a lower thread hole at the upper end and the lower end thereof, and being provided with an indentation and at least one through holes at the periphery thereof; a connecting body for connecting the lower housing to the upper housing; a radio circuit having the finction of receiving a signal and being disposed inside the upper housing, the circuit being provided with a switch for controlling the volume and the power source of the radio, a reset key and a channel key for adjusting the frequency, and a earphone receptacle, wherein the switch corresponds to the indentation while the reset key and the channel key correspond to the through holes, respectively; at least one battery disposed at the upper surface of the connecting body for providing the circuit with power; a cover having an earphone socket at the top portion thereo

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the link status of a network device in a computer system. An automatic link status detection mechanism allows a system to operate intelligently in a normal operation mode if the link status is on, or a suspend mode if the link state is down. The mechanism includes an auto link poll controller and a polling cycle generator for generating a sequence of polling cycles to query the link status of the network device. A media independent interface management frame having a preamble field is generated in a polling cycle. Because of the improved preamble field, it is to assure that an exact polling cycle is complete when a polling cycle is issued to the physical layer of the network device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coupled polymer, which is prepared by reacting a living alkali metal-terminated polymer with a particular coupling agent. The coupling agent has the formula ##STR1## where R1, R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alkyl and alkenyl, and hydrogen, and R.sub.2 is alkylene, alkenylene, divalent cycloalkylene, divalent arenyl, or a C.sub.1-17 divalent hydrocarbyl containing ether or ketone group. By means of the particular coupling agent, the coupling efficiency is relatively high, and no harmful materials will be generated to corrode the pipes. The coupled polymer obtained has a coupling number of less than 3, and good rubbery physical properties, transparency, and wear resistance.

Abstract: The rubber for high-performance tire tread of the invention basically includes: (a) about 10%.about.50% weight percentage low molecular weight coupled copolymer of aromatic vinyl compound and conjugated diene or conjugated diene monopolymer, having a molecular weight of 5.times.10.sup.4 .about.35.times.10.sup.4, (b) about 10%.about.60% weight percentage middle molecular weight uncoupled copolymer of aromatic vinyl compound and conjugated diene, having a molecular weight of 10.times.10.sup.4 .about.80.times.10.sup.4, and (c) 5.about.60% weight percentage high molecular weight coupled copolymer of aromatic vinyl compound and conjugated diene, having a molecular weight of 45.times.10.sup.4 .about.200.times.10.sup.4.

Abstract: A process of preparing an elastomeric copolymer composition of mono-vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and conjugated diene is disclosed. The composition produced by this process has preferred properties, i.e. the product possesses the characteristics of enhancing ultimate elongation up to 900%, keeping tensile strength in a suitable range and enhancing transparency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for selective hydrogenation of a conjugated diene polymer. The process includes bringing the conjugated diene polymer in an inert organic solvent into contact with hydrogen in the presence of a specific hydrogenation catalyst combination including (A) a substituted or unsubstituted bis(cyclopentadienyl) Group VIII transition metal compound and (B) an organic lithium compound. The hydrogenation can be carried out in the presence of a small amount of the hydrogenation catalyst combination under mild conditions, and both the hydrogenation conversion and selectivity to conjugated diene units are high.