Abstract: A method of modifying a pigment that includes reacting a reactive compound having an X-[Y]n reactive group with a secondary compound N-S-ZM to form a substituted reactive intermediate [Y]a-X-(N-S-ZM)b. A pigment is reacted with the substituted reactive intermediate [Y]a-X-(N-S-ZM)b to attach the substituted reactive intermediate to the surface of the pigment to form a surface modified pigment. X may be a sulfonyl, phosphoryl, or 1,3,5-triazinyl group, Y may be a halogen leaving group, N may be a basic nucleophilic group, S may be an organic group, and ZM may be an ionizable end group. Also, n is an integer between 1 and 3, b is an integer between 1 and 3, and a=n?b. When n is equal to or greater than b, and if b is 2 or 3, each N-S-ZM can be the same or different.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified pigment by sulfonating a pigment and subsequently oxidizing the pigment. The modified pigment may have sulfonic acid and carboxyl surface modifying groups attached to the surface of the pigment. Charge balancing counterions such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and NR1R2R3H+, where R1, R2 and R3 are independently H or C1-C5 alkyl groups, may be associated with the surface modifying groups. The modified pigment is combined with water to produce a dispersion that can be used in such applications as coatings, paints, papers, adhesives, latexes, toners, textiles, fibers, plastics and inks.

Abstract: A method of modifying a particle that includes reacting a reactive compound having an X—[Y]n reactive group with a secondary compound N—S-ZM to form a substituted reactive intermediate [Y]a—X—(N—S-ZM)b, and reacting the particle with the substituted reactive intermediate [Y]a—X—(N—S-ZM)b to attach the substituted reactive intermediate to the surface of the particle to form a surface modified particle. The particle may comprise at least one of a dye particle, an inorganic pigment particle, an additive, or a combination thereof. X may be a sulfonyl, phosphoryl, or 1,3,5-triazinyl group. Y may be a halogen leaving group. N may be a nucleophilic group. S may be an organic group. ZM may be an ionizable end group. Also, n is an integer between 1 and 3, b is an integer between 1 and 3, and a=n?b. When n is equal to or greater than b, and wherein if b is 2 or 3, each N—S-ZM can be the same or different.

Abstract: A modified pigment that may include a polymer. The pigment may be directly attached to a nitrogen atom. The nitrogen atom may be attached directly or indirectly to a group that may include —S-Z. S may be a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, or polymer chain having a molecular weight range from about 300 to about 20000. Z may be a hydrogen, carboxyl, sulfonyl, phenolic, phosphoryl, ammonium, trimethylammonium, or tributylammonium group. Also, a modified pigment that may include a polymer. The pigment may be attached to an organic group through a carbon atom that is part of a N—C?N bond. A cosmetic formulation that may include a pigment covalently bonded to an organic group.

Abstract: In a method for producing semiconductor components, in which chips are structured, tested, and isolated into dies on a wafer, in the event of a wafer being broken during the method, undamaged chips of a fragment of the wafer delimited by at least one edge section and at least one fracture contour are processed further as usual. The method has the result that the yield of usable chips is significantly increased in relation to the discarding and disposal of broken wafers provided in the prior art. The average production costs of electronic components and the loss of valuable semiconductor materials and the costs for the disposal of the fragments viewed as discards up to this point are thus significantly reduced.

Abstract: A method of modifying a pigment that includes reacting a reactive compound having an X-[Y]n reactive group with a secondary compound N-S-ZM to form a substituted reactive intermediate [Y]a-X-(N-S-ZM)b. A pigment is reacted with the substituted reactive intermediate [Y]a-X-(N-S-ZM)b to attach the substituted reactive intermediate to the surface of the pigment to form a surface modified pigment. X may be a sulfonyl, phosphoryl, or 1,3,5-triazinyl group, Y may be a halogen leaving group, N may be a basic nucleophilic group, S may be an organic group, and ZM may be an ionizable end group. Also, n is an integer between 1 and 3, b is an integer between 1 and 3, and a=n?b. When n is equal to or greater than b, and if b is 2 or 3, each N-S-ZM can be the same or different.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified pigment by sulfonating a pigment and subsequently oxidizing the pigment. The modified pigment may have sulfonic acid and carboxyl surface modifying groups attached to the surface of the pigment. Charge balancing counterions such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and NR1R2R3H+, where R1, R2 and R3 are independently H or C1-C5 alkyl groups, may be associated with the surface modifying groups. The modified pigment is combined with water to produce a dispersion that can be used in such applications as coatings, paints, papers, adhesives, latexes, toners, textiles, fibers, plastics and inks.

Abstract: The portable kneepad is comprised of a cushion that has a knee-shaped indentation designed to comfortably support a user's knee. On the bottom side of the cushion is a magnet that allows the kneepad to hand from a metal surface when not in use and a handle means on the outer part of the cushion which allows the kneepad to be carried to various locations for its use. A gripping tread on the bottom side of the kneepad prevents the kneepad from moving or sliding when in use. The cushion is either made of rubber or polyurethane and/or has a waterproof and oil-resistant cover and allows automobile mechanics to use the kneepad to comfortably kneel while loading an automobile lift and to store the kneepad out of the way when not in use.

Abstract: An apparatus for flameout detection to be used with a furnace having a sight hole tube for inspection of a flame. The apparatus comprises a fixed portion adapted for being mounted to the sight hole tube and being electrically connected to a control system. The fixed portion defines a first see-through channel being positioned opposite a sight hole of the sight hole tube, whereby the flame is visible therethrough. A detachable portion has a sensor device disposed therein a second see-through channel. The detachable portion is releasably mounted to the fixed portion such as to engage a contact connection therewith. The sensor device is disposed opposite the first see-through channel of the fixed portion for flameout detection therethrough, wherein the detachable portion is electrically disconnected upon being detached from the fixed portion.

Abstract: A phantom keyboard is formed on a touch sensitive display as an input tool for a computer. The keyboard is superimposed on, though does not occlude from view, an image of an output of an application being run on the computer. In a another aspect of the invention, the simulated keyboard is displayed in a different fashion, in a window occupying, e.g., the bottom of the display rastor, while the application's output appears in a window occupying, e.g., the top of the display rastor. Since this arrangement provides only a fraction of the full rastor for displaying the output from the application program, a special scroll feature is provided. This feature permits the user to scroll through the full screen page of text, but without the text of any other screen pages appearing on the display. In yet another aspect of the invention, the key "auto-repeat delay" and "auto repeat rate" of the simulated keyboard are user adjustable, again preferably by an adjust appearing on the touch-sensitive display.