Abstract: A chemical synthesis plant comprising: one or more reactors configured for producing, from one or more reactants, a process stream comprising at least one chemical product; a feed preparation system configured to prepare one or more feed streams comprising one or more of the one or more reactants for introduction into the one or more reactors; and/or a product purification system configured to separate the at least one chemical product from reaction byproducts, unreacted reactants, or a combination thereof within the process stream, wherein the chemical synthesis plant is configured such that a majority of the net energy needed for heating, cooling, compressing, or a combination thereof utilized via the one or more reactors, the feed preparation system, the product purification system, or a combination thereof is provided from a non-carbon based energy source, from a renewable energy source, and/or from electricity.

Abstract: A vertical separator system with an enhanced control mechanism which employs one or more micro-adjustment features. The micro-adjustment features include a combination of an air bladder, a mass sensor, and/or a bleed valve.

Abstract: The invention creates a dust collector having a container through which the dirty air passes. The container includes an inlet for acceptance of dirty air and an outlet for exhaustion of clean air. In the preferred embodiment, between the inlet and outlet is a serpentine pathway into which a fogging apparatus emits a fog of water to capture dust particles in the air passing therethrough. An alternative embodiment passes a dirty airflow through the fog while creating turbulence within the airflow to enhance contact between the fog and dirt particles.

Abstract: A filtration system which uses a frame being a multi-sided tube positioned substantially horizontal. The tube is closed at a first end and supports a multitude of filters which filter the ambient air flowing into the interior of the multi-sided tube. A motor mechanism rotates the multi-sided tube around a horizontal axis while a fan draws air from the second end of said multi-sided tube, thereby pulling the ambient air through the filters. A pulsed air jet is directed at a bottom group of filters and periodically cleans the filters, allowing the debris to fall into a catch basin where an auger pulls the debris away.

Abstract: A vapor deposition system includes a filter-diffuser device connected to a vapor inlet within a vacuum chamber for simultaneously filtering inflowing vapor to remove particulate matter while injecting vapor containing perfluordecanoic acid (PFDA) into the chamber through radially arranged porous metal filters to enable the deposition of a uniform monolayer of PFDA molecules onto the surfaces of a micromechanical device, such as a digital micromirror device.

Abstract: The invention employs a particle separation mechanism utilizing a generally circular passage using an air flow for the separation of particles. Ideally, within the passage is a conduit employing a hollow winding. Particles are introduced through an input end and drawn through the winding portion forcing, through centrifugal force, the particles to press against the exterior surface of the winding. Openings in the winding allow the particles to be flung from the winding into the circular passage either directly or via feed tubes.

Abstract: The invention employs a particle separation mechanism utilizing a generally circular passage using an air flow for the separation of particles. Ideally, within the passage is a conduit employing a hollow winding. Particles are introduced through an input end and drawn through the winding portion forcing, through centrifugal force, the particles to press against the exterior surface of the winding. Openings in the winding allow the particles to be flung from the winding into the circular passage either directly or via feed tubes.

Abstract: A filtration system which uses a frame being a multi-sided tube positioned substantially horizontal. The tube is closed at a first end and supports a multitude of filters which filter the ambient air flowing into the interior of the multi-sided tube. A motor mechanism rotates the multi-sided tube around a horizontal axis while a fan draws air from the second end of said multi-sided tube, thereby pulling the ambient air through the filters. A pulsed air jet is directed at a bottom group of filters and periodically cleans the filters, allowing the debris to fall into a catch basin where an auger pulls the debris away.

Abstract: A vapor deposition system includes a filter-diffuser device connected to a vapor inlet within a vacuum chamber for simultaneously filtering inflowing vapor to remove particulate matter while injecting vapor containing perfluordecanoic acid (PFDA) into the chamber through radially arranged porous metal filters to enable the deposition of a uniform monolayer of PFDA molecules onto the surfaces of a micromechanical device, such as a digital micromirror device.

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) organizes and presents programming information to the viewer and allows for creation of queries to facilitate both simple and complex searches of the programming information. The EPG is configured to automatically identify programs that a viewer is likely to prefer. The EPG collects viewing preferences of a viewer and, using these preferences; automatically develops queries for identifying programs that the viewer is likely to watch. The EPG also enables multiple viewers to merge their individual queries into one composite query or to run queries in background to periodically check for programs and notify the viewer when a program is identified. Queries are saved in an EPG database in a hierarchic structure with directories and sub-directories to make it easy for a viewer for organizing and retrieval. Also the EPG creates queries for a channel, network name or program using a 10-key keypad. The EPG is configured to interpret the data as representing all possible choices.

Abstract: A vapor deposition system includes a filter-diffuser device connected to a vapor inlet within a vacuum chamber for simultaneously filtering inflowing vapor to remove particulate matter while injecting vapor containing perfluordecanoic acid (PFDA) into the chamber through radially arranged porous metal filters to enable the deposition of a uniform monolayer of PFDA molecules onto the surfaces of a micromechanical device, such as a digital micromirror device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes. In some situations, the providing includes a first computer receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; and gathering information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules so that a value for the indicated one attribute can be generated based on the gathered information.

Abstract: Techniques for providing information about a current state modeled with multiple attributes is described. The providing of information can include receiving from a first source an indication of an ability to supply values for one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and supplying to a client a value for the one attribute received from the first source. After the supplying of the value, the providing can include receiving from a second source a value supplying ability for the one attribute and supplying of a value for the one attribute based on values received for the one attribute from the first and second sources. After the supplying of that value, the providing can include receiving from the first source an indication of a value supplying inability for the one attribute and supplying a value for the one attribute received from the second source.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations the providing includes receiving from a first client an indication of an interest in receiving values for an indicated one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, receiving from a second client an indication of an interest in receiving values for another of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and, in response to receiving a value for the indicated one attribute from a first source, determining that the first client has an interest in receiving the received value and supplying the received value to the first client.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from a module a request related to the modeling of the current state with the multiple state attributes. In such situations, the providing further includes, without further intervention related to the request by the module, determining that the request cannot currently be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request cannot currently be satisfied, monitoring at later times after the indicating to determine whether the request can be satisfied, and indicating to the module that the request can be satisfied if it is determined at one of the later times that the request can currently be satisfied.

Abstract: The current status of a list of tasks to be performed is dynamically displayed. The tasks may be performed by a user (e.g., data entered by the user, words spoken by the user, actions taken by the user, and so forth) or alternatively by a computer (e.g., the steps it follows in carrying out a programmed task). At least a portion of the list is displayed at any given time along with an indication of which task is the next task to be performed. As the tasks are completed, the current status of the progression through the items on the list is dynamically updated so as to readily inform the user (or someone else) as to what the current task is that needs to be performed, as well as what tasks have already been performed and/or what tasks remain to be performed.

Abstract: A system for computer-based storing of information about a current state so that later recall of the information can augment human memories. In particular, when information about a current event of interest is to be stored, a variety of current state information of different types (e.g., video, audio, and textual information) about the environment and about a user can be acquired via sensors and other input devices. The variety of state information can then be associated together as a group and stored for later retrieval. Other information can also be associated with the group, such as one or more recall tags that facilitate later retrieval of the group, or one or more annotations to provide contextual information when the other state information is later retrieved and presented to the user. When information about a past event is to be recalled, one or more identifying recall tags can be received that are used to identify one or more state information groups that match the identifying tags.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating, modifying, categorizing, modeling, distributing, purchasing, selling, and otherwise using themes and theme-related information. Themes can represent various types of contextual aspects or situations, and can model high-level concepts of activities or states not reflected in individual contextual attributes that each model a single aspect of the state of a user, their computing device, the surrounding physical environment, and/or the current cyber-environment. Such themes specify inter-relationships among a set of contextual attributes, and can have associated theme-related information such as theme-specific attributes, theme layouts used to present information and functionality, CSes that provide theme attribute values, and CCs that process theme information. Disclosed techniques can identify one or more themes that currently match the modeled context, select one of the matching themes as a current theme, and provide an appropriate response (e.g.

Abstract: A system filters received messages (e.g., unsolicited advertisements) to determine if they are appropriate for a user based on the non-static, constantly evolving, context of the user. The system can track the user's context by monitoring various environmental parameters, such as related to the user's physical, mental, computing and data environments, and can model the current context of the user based at least in part on the monitoring. The system selects a set of one or more filters to apply to incoming messages based on the user's context, and the selected filters can be updated as the user's context changes. Messages that survive the filters are then evaluated against the user's context to determine whether they should be presented immediately or stored for delayed presentation.

Abstract: A user search request is received and context information for the user is identified. The user search request and the context information are then combined to generate search criteria corresponding to the user search request, providing for information solicitation based on a computer user's context.