Abstract: This invention relates to methods of preparing substrates that enhance the Raman signal of analytes in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The SERS-active substrate comprises an array of metal nanoparticles at least partially embedded in a template. The substrate's uniform and readily reproducible SERS-active properties with a wide range of analyte concentrations substantially enhance the power and utility of SERS. This invention also provides sensors, as well as Raman instruments, comprising the SERS-active substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is an animal litter that includes a palm oil residue, possibly in combination with another absorbent material such as whole ground grain, virgin germ, seed meal, spent germ or clay. The palm oil residue may be palm kernel cake, palm oil sludge, or palm pressed fiber. Also disclosed are a method for removing animal waste and a process for preparing an animal litter. The method for removal of animal waste includes allowing an animal to excrete waste into a container that includes a litter, the litter comprising a palm oil residue. The process for preparing an animal litter comprises combining the materials that make up the litter to form the litter.

Abstract: A memory cell is provided having polysilicon gates 2 running in a first direction. A sequence of layers metal lines are provided including layer of bit lines 4 running in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction followed data lines 6 running in that second direction and then word lines 8 running in the first direction. The data lines 6 are precharged to a value which is held whilst the bit lines 4 are being used to sense data values stored within a memory cell.

Abstract: A differential signal transmitter including a driver circuit that generates a differential signal in response to data input. The amplitude of the voltage swings in the differential circuit is controlled by an electrical bias. Two data inputs, one being the original Data and the other being Data bar, are connected to the transistors and cause the required signal swings. The transmitter further includes a control circuit with an input for a single-bit control line for adjusting the bias to produce different swing amplitudes according to a control indicator inputted from the control line. The control circuit inputs one or more current sources and outputs the sum of one or more of the current sources according to the control indicator and the outputted current is used as the electrical bias.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for forming a durable layer on an article in an in-mold decoration process. The process comprises the steps of: a) thermally curing a composition comprising (i) an amino crosslinker and (ii) a UV curable monomer or oligomer having at least one functional group reactive with the amino crosslinker, in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a durable layer; b) transferring the durable layer to the surface of an article formed by an injection molding process carried out in a mold; and c) curing the durable layer by radiation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an application integration system collects business application information and generates and stores certain business flow and state information for the application, its involved users and shared business content within the system. This automation process defines the collaboration models between the content, process and users involved in the collaboration project. The automation process uses specific information pertaining to the involved users and applications of the system, the process flows of the application program, and the shared content to automate the integration of the distributed computer applications by defining the integration flow as a process checkpoint flow consisting of numerous checkpoints through which the business content transitions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an application integration system receives business application information and generates certain business flow and state information for the application, users based on the shared business content within the system. The content driven routing process facilitates the routing of application processes and user communication on the basis of the business content. The content-based routing process establishes integration connections on demand among users and or applications based on the business content utilized by their respective applications. Content data is encapsulated within a content table that consists of a number of tags that describe various parameters related to the content, such as user profiles, application that use the content, and data types within the content, so that it can be properly routed within the hub and processed by the integrated applications.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an application integration system collects business application information and generates and stores certain business flow and state information for the application, its involved users and shared business content within the system. This automation process defines the collaboration models between the content, process and users involved in the collaboration project. The automation process uses specific information pertaining to the involved users and applications of the system, the process flows of the application program, and the shared content to automate the integration of the distributed computer applications by defining the integration flow as a process checkpoint flow consisting of numerous checkpoints through which the business content transitions. Users of the collaboration hub platform are provided with an interactive console within a graphical user interface presented on their respective computing devices.

Abstract: A memory device is provided comprising a memory array consisting of a plurality of memory cells. These memory cells are accessed via a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. Multiplexer logic is provided which has the plurality of bit lines connected to its inputs, and is arranged to connect one of those inputs to its output dependent on a multiplexer control signal. Decoder logic is responsive to an address to produce the multiplexer control signal and to select one of the word lines, as a result of which a particular memory cell in the memory array identified by the address has its associated bit line connected to the output of a multiplexer logic. Sense amp logic is coupled to the output of the multiplexer logic and has a precharge node used during a sensing operation to detect a stored data state of the particular memory cell.

Abstract: A wireless automatically-activated bar code symbol reading system having a wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader in two-way RF communication with a base station, by way of an RF-based wireless data communication link having a predetermined RF communication range. A manually-operated data transmission activation switch is integrated with the hand-supportable housing, for generating a data transmission control activation signal in response to the activation of the data transmission switch within a first predetermined time period. A device controller is programmed to automatically detect when the wireless reader is located inside of the predetermined RF communication range, and thereuponautomatically transmit to a first RF-based transceiver, the symbol character data string produced at substantially the same time when the data transmission control activation signal is generated while the wireless reader is located inside of the predetermined RF communication range.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatically-activated wireless code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e.g. product, bar code menu, etc.) so that the bar code symbol is scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.

Abstract: A lamp assembly and an air guide plate thereof. The lamp assembly and the air guide plate are positioned in a projector. The lamp assembly comprises a base with a bottom portion and an opening, and a lamp with a bulb disposed at the bottom portion in a manner such that it extends toward the opening. The air guide plate comprises a body, a first guide portion, a second guide portion, and a third guide portion. The first guide portion substantially extends between the bulb and the bottom portion. The second guide portion substantially extends toward the bulb. The third guide portion substantially extends between the bulb and the opening.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with a circuit board with interconnecting conductors respectively extending between spring contact termination locations and other termination locations. Sets of spring contact conductors are provided terminating at respective spring contact termination locations. Each of the spring contact conductors of the set of spring contact conductors has a plug contact zone and defines a spring contact conductive path from an associated plug contact zone to a respective spring contact termination location. The sets of spring contact conductors provide different conductive path lengths from an associated plug contact zone to a respective spring contact termination location.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with a circuit board with interconnecting conductors respectively extending between spring contact termination locations and other termination locations. A set of spring contact conductors are provided terminating at respective spring contact termination locations. Each of said spring contact conductors of the set of spring contact conductors has a plug contact zone and defines a spring contact conductive path from an associated plug contact zone to a respective said spring contact termination location that is 6.7 mm or less.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a barrel including a slot, a lens installed inside the barrel for magnifying an image, a magnification-adjusting mechanism installed outside and around the barrel including an adjusting loop installed outside the barrel in a rotatable manner including a groove on a side facing the barrel, and a roller installed between the adjusting loop and the barrel. The optical machine further includes a rod for adjusting the magnification of the lens. One end of the rod is installed inside the slot of the barrel in a slidable manner, and another end of the rod is installed inside the groove of the adjusting loop in a slidable manner.

Abstract: An adjusting device for a projector lens comprises a seat bearing a lens, a shaft connected to the seat which moving on the shaft to adjust lens positions when the shaft rotates, a first gear pivoted on the shaft, a second gear engaging the first gear, a motor rotating the second gear, and an torque limiter joined to the first gear and the shaft. The motor rotates the shaft via the first and second gears. When the torque rotating the shaft exceeds a predetermined value, the torque limiter releases the first gear from the shaft enabling the first gear to rotate relative to the shaft to intercept the torque transmitted from the motor to the shaft.

Abstract: A method for designing and manufacturing lens modules includes selecting design parameters from a design database stored with the design parameters suitable for a lens module desired to be manufactured to design the lens module according to characteristics of the lens module and storing the design parameters of the lens module in an analysis database, analyzing the lens module based on a predetermined analysis process to generate analysis parameters corresponding to the lens module and storing the generated analysis parameters in the analysis database, and re-designing the lens module based on the analysis parameters stored in the analysis database.

Abstract: A wireless automatically-activated bar code symbol reading system for use in a work environment, the system including a device controller programmed to automatically detect when a wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located inside of a predetermined RF communication range based on measuring the strength of a detected reference signal, and thereupon to automatically transmit to a first RF-based transceiver, the symbol character data string produced while the wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located inside of the predetermined RF communication range.

Abstract: An input device includes a casing having a retention groove, a flexible membrane disposed on the casing and having a plurality of keys, a connecting portion an outer flange extending outwardly from an outer surface of the connecting portion, an upper recess formed on an inner surface of the connecting portion, and a lower recess formed on the inner surface below the upper recess, and a fixing ring for disposing below the flexible membrane so as to be received in one of the upper and lower recesses. Disposing the fixing ring below the flexible membrane in the lower recess after insertion of the outer flange of the flexible membrane into the retention groove results in fixing of the outer flange of the flexible membrane within the retention groove.

Abstract: A liquid level alarm is placed in a tank having a bottom and has a weight, a floating box, an alarm circuit and a cord. The weight is placed on the bottom of the tank. The floating box has a top recess, a passage, a slide and a top cover. The passage communicates with the top recess. The slide is mounted slidably in the passage. The alarm circuit is mounted in the top recess in the floating box and has two contacts, an alarm element, a switch and a spring. The switch is connected to the slide. The spring is connected to the top cover and holds the switch open. The cord is connected to the weight and the slide. When the floating box moves above a predetermined level, the switch with the slide moves down and makes contact with the contacts to activate the alarm element.