Abstract: The present invention provides a pH sensing apparatus that includes a flexible polymer substrate, one or more amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes disposed on the flexible polymer substrate, and a reference electrode corresponding to each amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. Each reference electrode is disposed on the flexible polymer substrate in close proximity to the corresponding amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. The amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes provide a potential in reference to the reference electrodes that varies according to a pH of a substance contacting the amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes and the reference electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for regulating body temperature. The system includes a housing that comprises compartments for a phase change material and a heat transfer material. The compartments are configured to transfer heat from the heat transfer material to the phase change material. A temperature sensor is used to determine when the phase change material has reached a pre-determined temperature. When the pre-determined temperature is reached, a release mechanism or lever is coupled to the temperature sensor to separate the phase change material compartment from the heat transfer material compartment or to remove the heat transfer material away from the phase change material compartment. The heated phase change material compartment can be used to regulate body temperature.

Abstract: A method for forming a metal pattern on a substrate via printing and electroless plating is disclosed, which includes printing a pattern on the substrate with an ink composition, drying the printed pattern, and contacting the dried pattern with an electroless plating solution. The ink composition either contains components (i), (ii) and (iii), components (i) and (iv), or components (i) and (v), which are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent, wherein (i) is a binder; (ii) is a sulfate terminated polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; (iii) is a catalytic metal precursor; (iv) is a polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer deposited with particles of catalytic metal; and (v) is a copolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophilic monomer deposited with particles of catalytic metal. The binder (i) is a water swellable resin. The catalytic metal may be Au, Ag, Pd, Pt or Ru.

Abstract: A copolymer deposited with particles of catalytic metal is disclosed in the present invention, which is formed from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophilic monomer, and the catalytic metal is Au, Ag, Pd, Pt or Ru. The copolymer is hydrophilic when the temperature is lower than a specific temperature, and will become hydrophobic when the temperature is greater than the specific temperature. The present invention also discloses a method for forming a metal layer on a substrate via electroless plating, which includes contacting the substrate with an ink composition, drying the ink composition on the substrate, and contacting the dried ink composition with an electroless plating solution, wherein the ink composition contains the copolymer of the present invention in an aqueous phase. The present invention further discloses a method for forming metal conductors in through holes of a substrate.

Abstract: This invention describes a collagen fiber reconstituted rawhide useful in the production of pet chews, and a method for making the same. Beginning materials include animal skins with hair, depilated limed splits and leftovers from the manufacture of rawhide pet chews. The materials are pretreated, ground, subjected to acid treatment to swell and separate the collagen fibers that comprise the animal hide, further ground into pulp, vacuum filtered, mixed with a dehydration agent that chemically shrinks the expanded fibers, drained, formed and dried into sheet and finally exposed to a cross-linking agent to increase the adhesive strength of the end product. Edible materials, including meats, may be added to the solution prior to draining, to enhance the nutritional value and palatability of the final product, and the reconstituted rawhide sheets may be bleached for appearance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pH sensing apparatus that includes a flexible polymer substrate, one or more amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes disposed on the flexible polymer substrate, and a reference electrode corresponding to each amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. Each reference electrode is disposed on the flexible polymer substrate in close proximity to the corresponding amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. The amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes provide a potential in reference to the reference electrodes that varies according to a pH of a substance contacting the amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes and the reference electrodes.

Abstract: A touch sensing method includes: scanning a plurality of first and second sensor lines, aligned in two different directions, of a touch sensor board; generating first and second indications based on the scan result, the first/second indication carrying information of at least one group of the first/second sensor lines that are adjacent to one another on the touch sensor board and that have detected a user's touch on the touch sensor board and of a number of the first/second sensor lines in the group; and generating a status signal that corresponds to a predetermined finger gesture at least based on a comparison result determined by comparing the number of the first sensor lines indicated by the first indication with the number of the second sensor lines indicated by the second indication. An electronic device that implements the touch sensing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a body, a ratchet wheel, a control unit, and a rotary knob. The body has an end forming a ratchet wheel bore and a receiving hole, which respectively and rotatably receive the ratchet wheel and the rotary knob therein. A channel is defined in the body between the ratchet wheel bore and the receiving hole for receiving therein the control unit. The control unit includes two detent blocks and a spring. The detent blocks are selectively engageable with teeth formed in the ratchet wheel. The rotary knob retains a control bar and a positioning ball. The receiving hole has an inner circumferential wall in which two positioning notches are defined. The control bar is operated to move the detent blocks to desired positions and the positioning ball is biased by a spring into selective engagement with the positioning notches for proper positioning of the detent blocks.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a body, a ratchet wheel, a control unit, and a rotary knob. The body has an end forming a ratchet wheel bore and a receiving hole, which respectively and rotatably receive the ratchet wheel and the rotary knob therein. A channel is defined in the body between the ratchet wheel bore and the receiving hole for receiving therein the control unit. The control unit includes two detent blocks and a spring. The detent blocks are selectively engageable with teeth formed in the ratchet wheel. The rotary knob retains a control bar and a positioning ball. The receiving hole has an inner circumferential wall in which two positioning notches are defined. The control bar is operated to move the detent blocks to desired positions and the positioning ball is biased by a spring into selective engagement with the positioning notches for proper positioning of the detent blocks.

Abstract: A copolymer deposited with particles of catalytic metal is disclosed in the present invention, which is formed from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophilic monomer, and the catalytic metal is Au, Ag, Pd, Pt or Ru. The copolymer is hydrophilic when the temperature is lower than a specific temperature, and will become hydrophobic when the temperature is greater than the specific temperature. The present invention also discloses a method for forming a metal layer on a substrate via electroless plating, which includes contacting the substrate with an ink composition, drying the ink composition on the substrate, and contacting the dried ink composition with an electroless plating solution, wherein the ink composition contains the copolymer of the present invention in an aqueous phase. The present invention further discloses a method for forming metal conductors in through holes of a substrate.

Abstract: A process for preparing a metal styrene polymer composite having nano metallic particles deposited thereon is disclosed, which includes a) undergoing free radical polymerization of styrene and an optional co-monomer in the presence of a persulfate initiator and a chain transfer agent; and b) contacting the resulting styrene oligomer or copolymer of styrene and the co-monomer from step a) with an aqueous solution containing a noble metal ion dissolved therein, so that the noble metal ion is reduced to element form particles and deposit on the styrene oligomer or copolymer of styrene and the co-monomer by sulfates on the oligomer or copolymer in the absence of a reducing agent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a metal styrene polymer composite having nano metallic particles deposited thereon is disclosed, which includes a) undergoing free radical polymerization of styrene and an optional co-monomer in the presence of a persulfate initiator and a chain transfer agent; and b) contacting the resulting styrene oligomer or copolymer of styrene and the co-monomer from step a) with an aqueous solution containing a noble metal ion dissolved therein, so that the noble metal ion is reduced to element form particles and deposit on the styrene oligomer or copolymer of styrene and the co-monomer by sulfates on the oligomer or copolymer in the absence of a reducing agent.

Abstract: A method for forming a metal pattern on a substrate via printing and electroless plating is disclosed, which includes printing a pattern on the substrate with an ink composition, drying the printed pattern, and contacting the dried pattern with an electroless plating solution. The ink composition either contains components (i), (ii) and (iii), components (i) and (iv), or components (i) and (v), which are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent, wherein (i) is a binder; (ii) is a sulfate terminated polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; (iii) is a catalytic metal precursor; (iv) is a polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer deposited with particles of catalytic metal; and (v) is a copolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophilic monomer deposited with particles of catalytic metal. The binder (i) is a water swellable resin. The catalytic metal may be Au, Ag, Pd, Pt or Ru.

Abstract: A microinductor comprises a magnetic core and a coil which winds around the magnetic core. The magnetic core used in the microinductor is formed of FeCuNbCrSiB.

Abstract: A method for packet transmission of multimedia data in a network is provided. The method is used for transmitting a group of pictures (GOP) including a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes a plurality of packets, and the plurality of frames are of N types of frame. The method includes the following steps. (a) Set i to one, where i is a positive integer. (b) Form an i-th transmission sequence by arranging the packets of the i-th type of frame. (c) Form an (i+1)-th transmission sequence by putting the packets of the (i+1)-th type of frame between packets of the i-th transmission sequence consecutively. (d) Increment i by one. (e) Repeat steps (c) to (d) until i is equal to N. (f) Transmit the N-th transmission sequence.

Abstract: A method for packet transmission of multimedia data in a network is provided. The method is used for transmitting a group of pictures (GOP) including a plurality of frames, wherein each frame includes a plurality of packets, and the plurality of frames are of N types of frame. The method includes the following steps. (a) Set i to one, where i is a positive integer. (b) Form an i-th transmission sequence by arranging the packets of the i-th type of frame. (c) Form an (i+1)-th transmission sequence by putting the packets of the (i+1)-th type of frame between packets of the i-th transmission sequence consecutively. (d) Increment i by one. (e) Repeat steps (c) to (d) until i is equal to N. (f) Transmit the N-th transmission sequence.

Abstract: A method for making high-density multilayer printed circuit boards is disclosed.

Abstract: A scroll compressor has a stationary scroll member and an orbiting scroll member which moves around the stationary scroll member to consecutively compress working fluid. A piston is provided to urge the orbiting scroll member to come close to the stationary scroll member. The piston is driven to urge the orbiting scroll member by compressed working fluid which is guided to enter an annular chamber communicating with compressed working fluid or working fluid being compressed. By this arrangement, the mechanical efficiency of the scroll compressor will be enhanced, and mixing of working fluid and lubricant is able to be reduced. Furthermore, the wobbling of the orbiting scroll member will also be diminished.

Abstract: A scroll type compressor comprising a housing inside which a stationary scroll member and a frame are fixed to define a space therebetween large enough to receive therein an orbiting scroll member which inter-engages with the stationary scroll member to define therebetween a hermetical compression pocket into which the fluid to be compressed fills. An Oldham-coupling ring restricts the orbiting scroll member to orbit around the center of the stationary scroll wrap only. A back pressure chamber is in pressure connection with the compressed fluid through a lubricant for the compressor and also in fluid connection with an inlet of the fluid to be compressed through a capillary-like passage.