Abstract: Non-volatile multi-bit memory with programmable capacitance is disclosed. Illustrative data memory units include a substrate including a source region and a drain region; and a gate stack structure over the substrate and between the source region and drain region. The gate stack structure includes a first solid electrolyte cell and a second solid electrolyte cell. The solid electrolyte cells having a capacitance that is controllable between at least two states. A gate contact layer is electrically coupled to a voltage source. The first solid electrolyte cell and the second solid electrolyte cell separate the gate contact layer from the substrate.

Abstract: A steam ironing system (2) comprises a steam iron (10) and a boiler system (25) having a boiler (30) for generating steam, wherein the steam iron (10) and the boiler (30) are connected to each other through a steam hose (35). During operation of the boiler system (25), scale is formed in the boiler (30). For the purpose of removing the scale from the boiler (30), a rinsing process is performed on the boiler system (25) at regular intervals. During the rinsing process, a rinse valve (38) connected to a water outlet (37) positioned at a bottom of the boiler (30) is opened, and water is discharged from the boiler (30) to a rinse container (55). In the process, scale particles are carried along with the flow of water. Preferably, pressure is built up inside the boiler (30) prior to opening the rinse valve (38), so that the water is forcibly ejected from the boiler (30), whereby the effectiveness of the rinsing process is enhanced.

Abstract: Methods for making a programmable metallization memory cell are disclosed.

Abstract: An ironing board (2) that can easily be stored and converted to a stable position for ironing comprises a base (1) having a variable length, and a body (5) with a work surface (6). A column (7) extends between the body and the base. An adjustment mechanism (9) arranges for the base to be shorter in case the work surface is positioned vertically and the base to be longer in case the work surface is positioned horizontally. A system comprises such an ironing board and an iron for cooperation with the ironing board.

Abstract: An ironing board comprises a base (1), a body (5) with a work surface and an easy height-adjustment operation to adjust the distance of the body relative to the base. A column (7) extends between the body and the base and is equipped with a stationary frame (31) secured to the base and a moveable frame (33) secured to the body. In order to decrease the force needed to adjust the height of the body relative to the base the height adjustment means comprises a means for exerting a repelling force between the body and the base. A system comprising such an ironing board and an iron.

Abstract: A magnetic stack having a free layer having a switchable magnetization orientation, a reference layer having a pinned magnetization orientation, and a barrier layer therebetween. The stack includes an annular antiferromagnetic pinning layer electrically isolated from the free layer and in physical contact with the reference layer. In some embodiments, the reference layer is larger than the free layer.

Abstract: An ironing board for multifunctional use comprising a base (1), a body (5) with a work surface (6), which body has a first longitudinal axis (I-I) and is connected to the base. A column (7) extends between the body and the base, the column having a second longitudinal axis (II-II) and a tilting means. The tilting means is arranged for tilting the body about a tilting axis (T-T) extending substantially perpendicularly to both the first axis and the second axis. A system comprises such an ironing board and an iron for cooperation with the ironing board. The invention further relates to a method for refreshing an article and a method for pressing an article.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an apparatus and method associated with a semiconductor device with thermally coupled phase change layers. The semiconductor device comprises a first phase change layer selectively configurable in a relatively low resistance crystalline phase and a relatively high resistance amorphous phase, and a second phase change layer thermally coupled to the first phase change layer. The second phase change layer is characterized as a metal-insulator transition material. A programming pulse is applied to the semiconductor device from a first electrode layer to a second electrode layer to provide the first phase change layer with a selected resistance.

Abstract: An ironing board (1) comprises a fan (20) for generating an airflow and a controlling unit (40) for controlling a mode in which the fan (20) is driven during operation of the ironing board (1). When there is a need for obtaining an airflow through an item to be ironed, the controlling unit (40) puts the fan (20) to a mode in which it is driven at a normal operating speed. However, when there is no such need, the controlling unit (40) puts the fan (20) to a mode in which it is driven at a speed which is lower than a normal operating speed. In this way, it is achieved that the fan (20) is continuously driven during operation of the ironing board (1), also in case an ironing process performed with the help of the ironing board (1) does not require an operation of the fan (20). As an advantageous result, condensation of steam inside the ironing board (1) is prevented.

Abstract: A programmable metallization memory cell that has an apertured insulating layer comprising at least one aperture therethrough positioned between the active electrode and the inert electrode. Superionic clusters are present within the at least one aperture, and may extend past the at least one aperture. Also, methods for making a programmable metallization memory cell are disclosed.

Abstract: Non-volatile multi-bit memory with programmable capacitance is disclosed. Illustrative data memory units include a substrate including a source region and a drain region. A first insulating layer is over the substrate. A first solid electrolyte cell is over the insulating layer and has a capacitance that is controllable between at least two states and is proximate the source region. A second solid electrolyte cell is over the insulating layer and has a capacitance or resistance that is controllable between at least two states and is proximate the drain region. An insulating element isolates the first solid electrolyte cell from the second solid electrolyte cell. A first anode is electrically coupled to the first solid electrolyte cell. The first solid electrolyte cell is between the anode and the insulating layer. A second anode is electrically coupled to the second solid electrolyte cell. The second solid electrolyte cell is between the anode and the insulating layer.

Abstract: Non-volatile memory with programmable capacitance is disclosed. Illustrative data memory units include a substrate including a source region and a drain region. A first insulating layer is over the substrate. A second insulating layer is over the substrate and between the source region and drain region. A solid electrolyte layer is between the first insulating layer and second insulating layer. The solid electrolyte layer has a capacitance that is controllable between at least two states. A first electrode is electrically coupled to a first side of the solid electrolyte layer and is electrically coupled to a voltage source. A second electrode is electrically coupled to a second side of the solid electrolyte layer and is electrically coupled to the voltage source. Multi-bit memory units are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an ion exchange cartridge (13), in particular for a domestic appliance that comprises between a water inlet (1A) and a water outlet (2A) a weak acid ion exchanger in the H+ form (5), followed by a strong acid ion exchanger in the Na+ form (7). This cartridge may be compact because it removes hard scale forming ions only. The cartridge may further comprise a first (16) and a second probe (17) to measure hard scale causing ions by a differential measurement of the conductivity of incoming water and water that has passed one or both ion exchangers. Herewith the appliance can be switched off when the cartridge is not functioning anymore, thus forcing a user to replace the cartridge, or to regenerate the ion exchangers before hard scale blocking of the appliance.

Abstract: A steam ironing system (2) comprises a steam iron (10) and a boiler system (25) having a boiler (30) for generating steam, wherein the steam iron (10) and the boiler (30) are connected to each other through a steam hose (35). During operation of the boiler system (25), scale is formed in the boiler (30). For the purpose of removing the scale from the boiler (30), a rinsing process is performed on the boiler system (25) at regular intervals. During the rinsing process, a rinse valve (38) connected to a water outlet (37) positioned at a bottom of the boiler (30) is opened, and water is discharged from the boiler (30) to a rinse container (55). In the process, scale particles are carried along with the flow of water. Preferably, pressure is built up inside the boiler (30) prior to opening the rinse valve (38), so that the water is forcibly ejected from the boiler (30), whereby the effectiveness of the rinsing process is enhanced.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for creating a fully formed printed card with a magnetically encoded strip in a continuous, single pass fashion. In one embodiment, a printing system includes a web flexographic press and an automated strip applicator and encoder. The web flexographic press receives a roll of thick card stock and has an unwinder that is adapted to unwind the roll of thick card stock into a continuous web. The automated strip applicator and encoder receives the web from the web flexographic press and lays and encodes a magnetic strip thereon. Here, the web has a thickness greater than 12 mils. In one embodiment, the thick card stock has a thickness ranging from 20 mils to 30 mils.

Abstract: A secure and confidential card display package and a method of manufacturing the same. The secure and confidential card display package includes a card carrier, a stored value card, and a clear plastic wrapping. The card carrier is constructed of a laminated sheet of material and has a first peg aperture for insertion by a display peg. The stored value card is integrally formed with and selectively detachable along a line of weakness from the card carrier and has a masking element for masking a confidential code. The clear plastic wrapping is adapted to wrap and seal the card carrier and the stored value card therein and has a second peg aperture corresponding to the first peg aperture of the card carrier for insertion by the display peg.

Abstract: A card, a first panel, a second panel opposing the first panel, and a detachable tab connected to at least one of the first panel and the second panel taken together form a card carrier system. The card is provided between the first panel and the second panel and secured to at least one of the first panel and the second panel such that the card is at least partially covered by at least one of first panel and the second panel. The detachable tab taken together with at least one of the first panel and the second panel covers a greater portion of the card than either the first or second panel alone. The card has an exposed portion extending past both the first panel and the second panel such that when the detachable tab is removed, the exposed portion of the card may be encoded.

Abstract: A card, a first panel, a second panel opposing the first panel, and a detachable tab connected to at least one of the first panel and the second panel taken together form a card carrier system. The card is provided between the first panel and the second panel and secured to at least one of the first panel and the second panel such that the card is at least partially covered by at least one of first panel and the second panel. The detachable tab taken together with at least one of the first panel and the second panel covers a greater portion of the card than either the first or second panel alone. The card has an exposed portion extending past both the first panel and the second panel such that when the detachable tab is removed, the exposed portion of the card may be encoded.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method of processing image data in an image forming device is provided. The system can be configured to scan one or more sheets of print media and generate one or more image data pages. The one or more image data pages can be loaded into a memory as each image data page is generated. A first image data page can be copied into a page frame memory from the memory. The first image data page can be transmitted for imaging to an imaging mechanism where the transmitting can occur in parallel with the loading.

Abstract: An apparatus of measuring concentration of wastewater is provided for determining discharge rate of wastewater from a wastewater-collecting tank. The apparatus includes a mixing tank, a measuring tank, a water supply unit, a wastewater supply unit, a concentration detector, a controller, and a monitor. The measuring tank is communicated with the mixing tank, and the water supply unit is communicated with the mixing tank. Further, the concentration detector is located in the measuring tank, the controller is electronically connected respectively with all other devices, and the monitor is electronically connected with the controller to show the operating status of every device. The apparatus is capable of measuring real concentration of wastewater in the wastewater-collecting tank, and results of which can be used to adjust the discharge rate from the wastewater-collecting tank within a safe range.