Abstract: An ion sensor includes: a conductive base structure including a substrate and an electrode film formed on the substrate; a plurality of ion-sensitive nanorods protruding from the electrode film; and an encapsulant enclosing the conductive base structure, surrounding the ion-sensitive nanorods, and formed with a window for exposing the ion-sensitive nanorods. Each of the ion-sensitive nanorods has a conductive core and an ion-sensitive layer formed on and enclosing the conductive core. The ion-sensitive material exhibits an ion selectivity of absorbing an ion of interest thereon for inducing a surface potential corresponding to concentration of the ion of interest.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a brewing filter apparatus capable of preparing foam, froth, or crema, particularly for coffee beverages, under low pressure. The apparatus can operate at pressures below 15 bar and as low as 1-3 bar. The apparatus comprises a mesh cover, coarse filter, fine filter, large 0-ring, coffee container, small 0-ring, and foam maker having two opposing holes. The holes have a diameter in the range of 0.3 to 1 mm. The crema is created by the turbulent contacting of two opposing jets of coffee, which enter the foam maker through the two opposing holes. To further increase agitation and the surface area for contact, a stainless steel wire mesh may be situated in the center of the foam maker directly in the path of and in between the opposing jets of coffee to facilitate the formation of more crema.

Abstract: An ion sensor includes: a conductive base structure including a substrate and an electrode film formed on the substrate; a plurality of ion-sensitive nanorods protruding from the electrode film; and an encapsulant enclosing the conductive base structure, surrounding the ion-sensitive nanorods, and formed with a window for exposing the ion-sensitive nanorods. Each of the ion-sensitive nanorods has a conductive core and an ion-sensitive layer formed on and enclosing the conductive core. The ion-sensitive material exhibits an ion selectivity of absorbing an ion of interest thereon for inducing a surface potential corresponding to concentration of the ion of interest.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a brewing filter apparatus capable of preparing foam, froth, or crema, particularly for coffee beverages, under low pressure. The apparatus can operate at pressures below 15 bar and as low as 1-3 bar. The apparatus comprises a mesh cover, coarse filter, fine filter, large 0-ring, coffee container, small 0-ring, and foam maker having two opposing holes. The holes have a diameter in the range of 0.3 to 1 mm. The crema is created by the turbulent contacting of two opposing jets of coffee, which enter the foam maker through the two opposing holes. To further increase agitation and the surface area for contact, a stainless steel wire mesh may be situated in the center of the foam maker directly in the path of and in between the opposing jets of coffee to facilitate the formation of more crema.

Abstract: A thermal responsive, water soluble copolymer is disclosed, which comprises the co-polymerization product of: (a) 0.5˜20 wt % of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm); (b) 0.5˜20 wt % of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VPD); (c) 0.01˜10 wt % of acrylic acid (AA); and (d) 80˜90 wt % of acrylamide. The viscosity of.the co-polymerization product is adjustable by temperature. Moreover, phase-separating does not occur in the copolymer while temperature is changing and the structure as well as the fluidity are maintained, therefore, the copolymer of the present invention is suitable for the application of a micro-fluidic chip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochromic film. The invention demonstrates the electrochromic effect of a single substrate film by applying electronic current to induce a reversible oxidation-reduction reaction of an organic electrochromic layer. The electrochromic film can attach to a surface of an object with the using of an adhesive layer.

Abstract: This invention provides a simpler to use, brewing filter apparatus designed for measuring the required amount of coffee grounds or beverage mixes adapted to be mounted on a beverage- or coffee-making machine for brewing coffee grounds or beverages. Particularly, this invention relates to a filter apparatus for brewing coffee or beverage mixes, including but not limited to tea, chocolate or other flavored beverages mixes, and for making foam or froth in the brewed beverage or coffee.

Abstract: A thermal responsive, water soluble copolymer is disclosed, which comprises the co-polymerization product of: (a) 0.5˜20 wt % of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm); (b) 0.5˜20 wt % of 1-vinyl-2- pyrrolidinone (VPD); (c) 0.01˜10 wt % of acrylic acid (AA); and (d) 80˜90 wt % of acrylamide. The viscosity of.the co-polymerization product is adjustable by temperature. Moreover, phase-separating does not occur in the copolymer while temperature is changing and the structure as well as the fluidity are maintained, therefore, the copolymer of the present invention is suitable for the application of a micro-fluidic chip.

Abstract: A write once recording medium comprising an inorganic material serving as a recording layer is disclosed. The inorganic material has a formula, A(1?y)My, wherein A is comprised of Si or Sn; M is comprised of Al, Ag, Au, Zn, Ti, Ni, Cu, Co, Ta, Fe, W, Cr, V, Ga, Pb, Mo, In or Te; and y is in the range of 0.02˜0.8.

Abstract: Metal nanodot arrays and fabrication methods thereof. A film of a block copolymer is deposited on a conductive substrate. The block copolymer comprises first polymer and second polymer blocks, wherein the first polymer blocks have a periodically ordered morphology. The first polymer blocks are selectively degraded to form a nanopatterned template comprising periodically ordered nanochannels. By electroplating, metal is deposited into the nanochannels that expose the conductive substrate, thus forming a metal nanodot array.

Abstract: A write-once high density optical information recording medium, with the recording medium made of a material having a formula of AxByCz, is formed by a special thin film coating process. There is a good contrast for optical reflectivity between the recorded marks and the non-recording areas, and the recorded marks can not be removed to be rewritten. The write-once high density optical information recording medium is easier to manufacture and is suitable for mass-production. And, the write-once high density optical information recording medium has good recording characteristics under blue laser wavelength, so that the data quality is improved remarkably and the data jitter is reduced. The multiple-layer film structure of the storage medium on the substrate of the optical disc includes a first protective layer, a recording layer, a second protective layer, and a reflective layer covering the second protective layer.

Abstract: This invention provides a locking device sustaining high pressure in a coffee maker which comprises a brew head assembly which comprises: a slide assembly, a sealing assembly and a pop-up and roll-back assembly, operatively linked to sustain pressure up to four (4) bars. Furthermore, this invention provides a method for one-hand operation on the locking of a coffee maker comprising steps of: a) Using one hand to put the lever forward to release the lock which is controlled by two parts, the slider and the three mounts on the brew base wherein the back-and-forth movement of the slider will produce the action of locking and releasing; b) Moving the lever forward, produce the push rod that is assembled on the slider will push the slider forward so the brew head is released; c) Putting back the lever, the push rod will put back the slider so the brew head is locked; and d) after releasing the lock, the lift platform will pop up by the lift platform spring and the lid mount roll up by the hinge spring.

Abstract: An initiation-free super-resolution optical medium. The optical medium includes, in sequence, a substrate with a first dielectric layer thereon, an active layer on the first dielectric layer to absorb laser beam, a second dielectric layer on the active layer, an initiation-free recording layer on the second dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer on the initiation-free recording layer.

Abstract: A method for reading data from high density optical recording media is disclosed. In this method, a value is generated from a formula Pr/(&lgr;/NA), wherein Pr is light source reading power; &lgr; is wavelength; and NA is numerical aperture, when the value is in a range of about 1.15 to about 8 mW/&mgr;m, a recording mark within the high density optical recording medium which is smaller than a resolution limit of an optical system is detected.

Abstract: A write once recording medium comprising an inorganic material serving as a recording layer is disclosed. The inorganic material has a formula, A(1-y)My, wherein A is comprised of Si or Sn; M is comprised of Al, Ag, Au, Zn, Ti, Ni, Cu, Co, Ta, Fe, W, Cr, V, Ga, Pb, Mo, In or Te; and y is in the range of 0.02˜0.8.

Abstract: A thermal responsive, water soluble polymer. The polymer comprises the co-polymerization product of: (a) 5˜95 wt % of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIP); (b) 0.1˜80 wt % of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VPD); and optionally, (c) 0.1˜30 wt % of acrylic acid (AA). As the proportion of component (b) VPD increases, the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) and water solubility of the polymer increases. On the other hand, as the proportion of component (c) AA increases, the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) decreases and the COOH reactive groups increases, which impart high reactivity to the copolymer. By adjusting the proportion of the monomers, a broad range of LCST can be manipulated from about 20 to 80° C.

Abstract: An initiation-free super-resolution optical medium. The optical medium includes, in sequence, a substrate with a first dielectric layer thereon, an active layer on the first dielectric layer to absorb laser beam, a second dielectric layer on the active layer, an initiation-free recording layer on the second dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer on the initiation-free recording layer.

Abstract: A super resolution optical disk mother mold, having a substrate, a super resolution structure and a patterned photoresist layer. The super resolution is disposed between the substrate and the patterned photoresist layer. The super resolution optical disk mother mold is fabricated on the substrate prior to formation of the photoresist layer. The above process does not cause the problem of pre-exposing the photoresist layer. In addition, the surface roughness caused by thin-film particle will not occur to the optical disk mother mold fabricated by the above process. Therefore, the optical disk stamper made by the optical disk mother mold will not suffer from the problem of the surface roughness.

Abstract: A thermal responsive, water soluble polymer. The polymer comprises the co-polymerization product of: (a) 5˜95 wt % of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIP); (b) 0.1˜80 wt % of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VPD); and optionally, (c) 0.1˜30 wt % of acrylic acid (AA). As the proportion of component (b) VPD increases, the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) and water solubility of the polymer increases. On the other hand, as the proportion of component (c) AA increases, the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) decreases and the COOH reactive groups increases, which impart high reactivity to the copolymer. By adjusting the proportion of the monomers, a broad range of LCST can be manipulated from about 20 to 80° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a graft copolymer of a syndiotactic styrene/para-alkylstyrene copolymer, having the formula of wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, and primary and secondary haloalkyl; X is a functional group selected from a group containing halogen, oxygen, sulfur, silicon, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, and mixtures thereof; Y is an atactic polymer moiety; a ranges from 10 to 30000; b ranges from 0 to 30000; c ranges from 0 to 30000; and d ranges from 1 to 30000. The compatibility of the graft copolymer of syndiotactic styrene/para-alkylstyrene copolymer of the present invention with other polymers is improved over a syndiotactic styrene polymer. Also, the graft copolymer of the present invention can serve as a compatibilizer for a polymer blend.