Abstract: An amplitude sensitive damper apparatus that is provided with an amplitude sensitive valve unit may include a plug coupled to a piston rod to form a spring groove with the piston rod in a predetermined section, a spool member configured and dimensioned to cover the spring groove and slidably coupled to the piston rod to move up and down along the piston rod, wherein the spool member includes a supporting portion that protrudes toward the piston rod from a middle portion of an inner surface of the spool member, upper and lower elastic members that are mounted inside the spring groove to support the supporting portion of the spool member upwards and downwards respectively along the piston rod, and an amplitude sensitive valve that is integrally mounted on an outer surface of the spool member to generate a damping force when the spool member is moving.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve sliding in a valve holder and a base. The valve holder is held by the base by a resilient holding mechanism, the valve holder is mobile with respect to the base between a compression position and an expansion position. The valve holder includes a seat and a body extending beneath the seat and extending into the base. The holding mechanism is fixed on the one hand to the body of the valve holder and includes at least one portion extending beneath the lower face of the base, the portion resting against the lower face when the valve holder is in the expansion position. A damper is also provided.

Abstract: A truck includes a pressurized air supply system for providing air to one of a plurality of air supply connections and a selector circuit for providing selection to one of the air supply connections. The circuit includes a first inversion valve with supply from a selector valve and control from a parking brake valve, a second inversion valve with supply from the parking brake valve and delivery to a first air supply connection, a synchro valve with supply from the parking brake valve and delivery to a second air supply connection, a double check valve with supply from the first inversion valve and the synchro valve and delivery to a control line of the second inversion valve and the synchro valve, a first trailer supply connection to the delivery line of the second inversion valve, and a second trailer supply connection to the delivery line of the synchro valve.

Abstract: Luggage selectively provides a reclining chair for the traveler. The luggage has a wheeling configuration and has a backward-tilted, stationary configuration including a sitting configuration. The luggage includes a case including a top wall, a bottom wall and a back wall defining a backplane, and an extendable and retractable top handle. A front support and a pair of wheels support the case in the stationary position wherein the backplane is tilted backward from the vertical. A brace assembly is movable between a storage position wherein the brace assembly is in the backplane and a sitting position extending backward from the backplane and downward to contact the ground for preventing the luggage in the stationary position from toppling backward when a person or object is sitting on the top wall and leaning against the handle in the extended position.

Abstract: A sports equipment bag having two compartments, each compartment comprising a rear panel, a front panel, top and bottom panels, side panels, and pockets, a connector pivotally connecting the two compartments, to accommodate moving the compartments to and from each other between a transport configuration, in which the rear panels are disposed against one another and a hang-up configuration, in which the compartments extend from each other with rear panels substantially coplanar, at least two fasteners, to releasably secure the compartments in either the transport configuration or a stand-up configuration, in which the rear panels are disposed in angled relation and at an angle less than 180° to one another, at least one loop for hanging the bag in the hang-up configuration, a shoulder strap for carrying the bag in the transport configuration, wherein each of the compartments comprises a frame.

Abstract: A hybrid drive device, which has a motor generator on a power transmission path between an engine and an automatic transmission apparatus, includes a fluid clutch having a pump impeller, to which a rotational force generated by the engine is inputted, and a turbine impeller being rotated when receiving a fluid from the pump impeller and outputting a rotational force to the automatic transmission apparatus, a clutch mechanism connecting the pump impeller and the turbine impeller to establish a power transmission therebetween and disconnecting the pump impeller and the turbine impeller to interrupt the power transmission therebetween, and an oil pump arranged on a power transmission path between the turbine impeller and the automatic transmission apparatus, integrally rotating with the turbine impeller and generating a hydraulic pressure for actuating the automatic transmission apparatus and the clutch mechanism, wherein the motor generator is integrally rotated with the turbine impeller.

Abstract: An automatic transmission includes first and second clutches disposed adjacent, wherein each of the first and second clutches includes a friction plate; a clutch drum in spline engagement with the friction plate; a piston that with the clutch drum forms a hydraulic oil chamber therebetween; a return spring that biases the piston toward the hydraulic oil chamber side; and a cancel plate that is disposed on a side opposite the hydraulic oil chamber of the piston to form a cancel oil chamber that cancels outs a centrifugal hydraulic pressure that acts on the hydraulic oil chamber, and that receives a reaction force of the return spring.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for connecting a shaft to a rotary member mounted on said shaft in a rotationally fixed manner comprises: a sliding sleeve which is rotationally fixed to the shaft, is axially slidably mounted on said shaft and is provided with a first gearing, A clutch body which is rotationally fixed to the rotary member and provided with a second gearing which can mesh with the first gearing to connect the shaft and the rotary member in a rotationally fixed manner. And, a locking synchronisation unit having a synchroniser ring with a friction surface the ring permitting the speeds of the shaft and the rotary member to be synchronised before the meshing of the first and second gearings. The locking synchronisation unit further comprises a locking member which is coupled to the sliding sleeve by a detent groove and to the synchroniser ring in the rotational direction (D) by a pair of locking surfaces.

Abstract: A torque transferring arrangement (10) includes a member defining a first part and a second part and a first element (16) in frictional contact with the first part, the first element (16) defining a first maximum torque transfer limit determined by the frictional contact between the first element (16) and the first part, and a second element (26) in frictional contact with the second part, the second element (20) defining a second maximum torque transfer limit determined by the frictional contact between the second element (20) and the second part being larger than or substantially equal to the first frictional coefficient. The first element receives torque from a torque generating unit, the second element transfers torque to a torque consuming unit.

Abstract: A multiple disc clutch includes a pressing member movable in an axial direction and which turns together with an output shaft to compress driving friction plates and driven friction plates, a clutch spring that axially presses the pressing member, a clutch lifter arranged coaxially with the pressing member and a lifter plate that is held by the periphery of the clutch lifter via a clutch bearing. The lifter plate moves the pressing member in a reverse direction to a direction pressed by the clutch spring according to the axial movement of the clutch lifter. This multiple disc clutch does not require a dedicated clutch lifter for every clutch bearing different in size and therefore the cost is reduced.

Abstract: A multi-plate clutch includes a clutch inner member, having a cylindrical portion and a pressure-applying plate portion, and a pressure-receiving plate opposite the pressure-applying plate portion with plural driving and driven friction plates interposed therebetween. The multi-plate clutch also includes a center cam having a disc portion, an assist cam and a slipper cam disposed on the disc portion. The assist and slipper cams include identical material, and have substantially identical shapes. An outer circumference of the assist cam is splined to an inner circumference of the cylindrical portion of the clutch inner member, so the assist cam can move in the axial direction relative to the clutch inner member. An outer circumference of the slipper cam is splined to the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion, so that axial motion of the slipper cam, relative to the clutch inner member away from the disc portion, is limited.

Abstract: A friction material is provided for a friction member of a torque-transmitting mechanism. The friction member has a woven carbon fiber fabric base. A coating is applied to the base to form a portion of a contact surface positioned to contact a reaction member during engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanism. The coating is a mixture of a resin binder and a friction modifier. A method of forming a friction material is also provided.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated transmission shifting element of a motor vehicle, in particular an electromagnetically actuated transmission brake (1), having a disk packet (3) and an electromagnetic actuator (7, 8, 9) for adjustable compression, to a greater or lesser extent, of the disk packet (3) and with at least one speed sensor (10). Each at least one speed sensor is integrated in the electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: A multiple disc clutch includes a pressing member that can be axially moved and that is turned together with an output shaft so as to compress driving friction plates and driven friction plates, a ringed set plate is provided on a side of the pressing member so as to receive a load by a clutch spring that axially presses the pressing member and a cam plate fixed to the pressing member so as to enable increasing or reducing frictional fitting force of the driving friction plates and the driven friction plates. The area for receiving the set plate is extended using a minimum number of parts, preventing a shape of the pressing member from being intricate and strength for supporting the set plate is enhanced. A part of the set plate axially touches the cam plate.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for selling controlled commodities is disclosed to include a host, a card-swiping unit, a bill acceptor unit and a coin acceptor unit. The host has installed in the face panel thereof multiple display compartments for accommodating commodities to be sold, and a commodity take-out port and a coin-return outlet located on the face panel near the bottom side. The card-swiping unit has a card-swiping slot installed in the face panel of the host and an authenticity recognition module and an image sensor module for recognizing the user's identity. The bill acceptor unit has an insertion slot for the insertion of a card or bill, a transmission device for transferring each inserted card or bill, and a recognition device for recognizing the authenticity of each inserted card or bill. The coin acceptor unit has an induction coil module for detecting the authenticity and value of each inserted coin.

Abstract: A ride vehicle loading interface system to allow guests in wheelchairs to access a ride vehicle and enjoy a ride attraction. The loading interface system includes a plurality of associated ride vehicles moving on a track. At least one ride vehicle including a tray extendable from and retractable into the ride vehicle through an opening, the tray for receiving a wheelchair and for allowing the wheelchair to be positioned in the ride vehicle. The ride vehicle loading interface system including a loading platform moving at about the same rate as the ride vehicle during loading and unloading.

Abstract: A conveying device for conveying and aligning flat products or stacks of flat products, in particular printed products, includes comprises leading pins for stop on a leading edge of conveyed products and trailing pins or pushers for stop on a trailing edge of the conveyed products. The products are insertable between the leading and trailing pins and are thus aligned by the pins. A distance between successive pushers is adjustable without parts of the device having to be exchanged.

Abstract: A conveyance control device includes a drive mechanism to drive a reciprocating body, an origin sensor, a drive amount detection unit for detecting the drive amount of the drive mechanism, and a movement detection unit for optically detecting the reciprocating body's shifting from a resting state to a moving state. After the reciprocating body is moved in one direction until the origin sensor turns from a first output state to a second output state, the reciprocating body is moved in the opposite direction until the origin sensor turns back to the first output state. A first drive amount from when the origin sensor turns to the second output state to when the reciprocating body shifts from the resting state to the moving state, and a second drive amount from when the reciprocating body shifts to the moving state to when the origin sensor turns to the first output state are acquired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.

Abstract: Non-contact, liquid-ejecting bearings (3) are provided for conveying flexible glass sheets (13), such as LCD substrates, at high conveyance speeds, e.g., speeds of 15 meters/minute and above. The operating parameters and physical properties of the bearings satisfy at least one of the following conditions: (a) the average flow rate from the bearing's orifices (22) is in the range of 100-800 milliliters/minute/orifice; (b) the orifices' average horizontal pitch (P) is in the range of 20-55 millimeters; and/or (c) the orifices' average size (e.g., D0) is in the range of 1.0-4.5 millimeters. The bearings (3) can reduce the time-averaged, peak-to-peak variation in the spacing between a LCD substrate (13) traveling at 15 meters/minute and the face (20) of the bearing (3) to less than 100 microns, thus reducing the chances that the bearing (3) will lose control of the substrate (13) or that the substrate (13) will hit the bearing (3).

Abstract: A conveyor belt having rodless, living hinges and a method for making such a belt. One version of the belt has spaced apart belt modules joined by tension members spanning the gaps between consecutive modules. The tension members bend in the gaps to allow the belt to articulate. Resilient fillers encapsulate the tension members and, together with top surfaces of the modules, form a generally continuous article-contacting belt surface. The belt may be made by molding the rigid belt modules and the resilient fillers onto an arrangement of elongated tension members.

Abstract: Modular belt link for use in endless conveyor belts where each modular belt link has a top surface, a bottom surface having a material thickness between said top and bottom surfaces, a leading and trailing edge, and side edges arranged connecting said leading and trailing edge and said top and bottom surfaces, and where means are arranged along said leading and trailing edge for hingely connecting adjacent modular belt links characterised in that an endless belt is arranged for rotation around at least a portion of the modular belt link.

Abstract: A locking mechanism in a switch in the field of electrical power distribution prevents an energy storage device from being discharged. The mechanism has a pushbutton which, when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position, is coupled by way of a force transmission element via an interlocking connection to a discharge initiator for discharging of the energy storage device, such that a switching-on movement acting on the pushbutton is introduced via the force transmission element into the discharge initiator in order to relieve the load on a force storage device, with the force transmission element being connected to interlock interruption means for moving the locking mechanism to a locked position in which the interlock is cancelled.

Abstract: A contact arm assembly and a method for assembling the contact arm assembly are provided. The contact arm assembly includes a first contact arm having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a first contact disposed thereon and a first spring holder portion disposed thereon. The second end portion has a first tab member for coupling a first braided strap thereto. The first contact arm has a first pivot aperture extending therethrough. The contact arm assembly further includes first and second side plates. The first side plate is disposed proximate to a first side of the first contact arm and the second side plate is disposed proximate to a second side of the first contact arm.

Abstract: A circuit breaker has at least one pole arrangement with a movable contact. A twin-armed lever is pivotally mounted for opening and closing the movable contact. A switch-on energy storage device is provided and a cam disc that is coupled to the switch-on energy storage device and, via an actuating element, to a first end of the lever. The second end of the lever is connected to the movable contact piece of the pole arrangement. There is also provided at least one switch-off energy storage device. The circuit breaker has a simple and compact design. The actuating element is a switching shaft, which interacts with the cam disc, is mounted such that it can rotate and is connected to the first end of the twin-armed lever via the switch-off energy storage device.

Abstract: A keyboard structure including a base, a membrane circuit, a keycap, an elastic body and a triggering element is provided. The membrane circuit is disposed on the base. The keycap is disposed upon the membrane circuit. The elastic body is disposed between the membrane circuit and the keycap, and has a first opening and a second opening opposite to the first opening. An edge of the elastic body around the first opening is connected to the membrane circuit, and another edge around the second opening is connected to the keycap. The triggering element, having one end located within the second opening and connected to the keycap, is extended towards the first opening. When the keycap moves toward the base, the other end of the triggering element moves close to the membrane circuit, so as to cause the membrane circuit to generate a signal.

Abstract: An insulating switching rod is used to initiate a drive movement into a moving contact of an electrical contact system of a switching device and to produce a contact force when the contact system is in the closed state. A tensioning apparatus is arranged in a cavity for a drive element of the switching rod in order to maintain the contact force, which has a greater contact force with a compact design, and ensures constant spring characteristics as well as low wear over the entire useful life. The tensioning apparatus is formed by a helical compression spring configuration or by two oppositely wound helical springs.

Abstract: Mechanical architecture for providing maximum viewing area on key button tops of keys for a user input device. The viewing area is for the display of information on the key buttons, and also includes tactile feedback similar to standard laptop keyboards, all using low cost manufacturing methods such as injection molding. The architecture optimizes an aperture through the core of the key switch assembly in order to project an image through the aperture and onto the display area of the key button. The architecture relocates in at least one embodiment the tactile feedback mechanism (e.g., dome assembly) out from underneath the key button to the perimeter or side of the key switch assembly. The architecture finds particular application to input devices such as keyboards, game pods, data entry device, etc., that operate in combination with an optical surface (e.g., wedge lens).

Abstract: An operator control panel for a domestic appliance includes a panel body having an operator control face facing a user and a rear face facing away from the operator control face. A sensor element of an electrically conductive material forms a capacitive sensor area together with the panel body. A conversion electronics system converts capacitance values generated in the sensor area into digital signals. The conversion electronics system is electrically conductively connected to the sensor element and is disposed on the rear face of the panel body. The sensor element and the conversion electronics system are firmly connected to the panel body and are two components which are mechanically decoupled from a control electronics system of the domestic appliance.

Abstract: Fouling in the scrubber section of a fluid coker unit is reduced by providing baffles to improve the uniformity of the gas flow profile in the scrubber by reducing the gas velocity of the cyclone outlet gases in the scrubber section of the unit. These baffles are located with the objective of reducing the rotational component of the gas flow in the scrubber created by the alignment of the gas outlets of the cyclones. The baffles are preferably located in the shed section of the scrubber and comprise upstanding perforated plates located at the periphery of the scrubber section to disrupt high velocity gas jets in the region of the interior wall of the scrubber.

Abstract: The once-through multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination plant with feed cooler is a desalination system utilizing a feed water cooler. Particularly, the plant includes a conventional MSF system, with a separate water cooler for cooling the seawater or brine that is input into the system, prior to the passage of the brine into the condensation conduits and brine heater. In use, the cooled brine is pumped, under pressure, through at least one conduit that passes through a plurality of flash chambers. The brine is then heated and injected into the plurality of flash chambers, where it is flashed into steam. The steam condenses on an external surface of the at least one conduit, and the condensed water is then extracted from the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anaerobic digestion process for the treatment of organic waste materials, which process comprises a bacterial process that is carried out in the absence of oxygen and wherein said process comprises digestion, in which said waste is fermented in tanks at an elevated temperature, and wherein said process results in the production of biogas, which can be used in generators for electricity production and/or in boilers for heating purposes, the comprises treating an organic waste with a composition comprising a fermentation supernatant containing active enzymes from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture; and a non-ionic surfactant, wherein said nonionic surfactant may be selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated nonylphenol and ethoxylated octyl phenol.

Abstract: A process for depositing coatings, and particularly erosion-resistant coatings suitable for protecting surfaces of a gas turbine engine blisk having a disk and integral blades with flowpath surfaces that are susceptible to erosion. The processing involves placing the blisk adjacent a coating material source in an apparatus configured to evaporate the source and generate coating material vapors. The blisk is oriented relative to the coating material source so that the axis of rotation of the blisk is within about forty-five degrees of a linear path that the coating material vapors flow from the coating material source to the blisk, and more erosion-susceptible flowpath surfaces of the blades face the coating material source. The blisk is then rotated about its axis of rotation while the coating material source is evaporated to preferentially deposit the coating material vapors and form a coating on the erosion-susceptible flowpath surfaces of the blades and disk.

Abstract: A sputtering method is for forming, in a vacuum chamber, an initial layer on a film formation target object and then further forming a second layer on the initial layer therein, and the method includes: in the vacuum chamber, arranging surfaces of a pair of targets to face each other while distanced apart from each other at a preset distance and to be inclined toward the film formation target object placed at a lateral position between the targets, and then sputtering the targets by generating a magnetic field space on the facing surfaces of the pair of targets, and thus forming the initial layer on the film formation target object by using particles sputtered by the sputtering; and further forming the second layer on the film formation target object at a higher film forming rate than a film forming rate of the initial layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fabricating method of a magnetoresistive element having an MR ratio higher than a conventional MR ratio. In a step of depositing a magnetization fixed layer, a magnetization free layer, and a tunnel barrier layer on a substrate using a sputtering method in one embodiment of the present invention, the step of depositing the magnetization free layer deposits a ferromagnetic layer containing Co atoms, Fe atoms, and B atoms by a co-sputtering method using a first target containing Co atoms, Fe atoms and B atoms, and a second target having different B atom content from that of the first target.

Abstract: An aluminum fluoride thin film deposition method includes the steps of (a) putting a substrate and a pure aluminum target in a plasma sputtering system, (b) applying argon plasma to the plasma sputtering system to remove impurities from the aluminum target, (c) applying CF4 gas, which is stable at room temperature under the atmospheric pressure, to the plasma sputtering system to bombard the aluminum target with energetic ions and to have aluminum atoms be ejected from the aluminum target and fluorinated so that a thin-film coating of aluminum fluoride is deposited on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber has multiple wafer positions, and the wafers are positioned by a rotating pallet. Above a wafer position in the chamber there may be a sputtering target, a flat inductively coupled plasma (ICP) coil for etching the wafer and/or promoting sputtering, and a TEOS vapor outlet for forming an oxide film on the wafer. As the pallet rotates, a wafer may first have deposited a thin layer of oxide on walls of a via hole at the TEOS position. A metal layer may then be sputtered in the via hole at the sputtering position, and any pinch-off material may be etched away at an etching position. A magnet behind each target scans back and forth behind the target. Vertical magnet walls substantially surround a sputtering target for confining the sputtered material to an angle that is more normal to the wafer than prior art trajectories to fill narrower vias.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sputtering apparatus and a method of thin film formation, whereby a film having quality superior in uniformity even for relatively large substrates can be obtained and the generation of particles and nodules is suppressed. The sputtering apparatus of the present invention includes: a vacuum vessel (9); a substrate holder (7) for supporting a substrate (6); a cathode mechanism located opposite to the substrate (6); and a second gas introduction mechanism for introducing a gas into the vacuum vessel (9). The cathode mechanism has a plurality of targets (1a) to (1c) arranged with a gap formed between each other and a plurality of backing plates (2a) to (2c) arranged with a gap formed between each other. A gap (14) between each of the targets is smaller than a gap (15) between each of the backing plates. In addition, the gap (14) overlaps with at least part of the gap (15). The second gas introduction mechanism introduces a gas through the gap (15) and the gap (14).

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method of producing a fuel system component. The method includes providing a substrate and a coating, wherein the substrate comprises steel and the coating comprises a metal nitride. The method also includes applying the coating to at least part of the substrate using a magnetron sputtering deposition process substantially conducted at a temperature less than about 200° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a microwave source to assist in sputtering deposition. Such a microwave source comprises a microstrip antenna that is attached to an end of a dielectric layer outside a sputtering target or cathode. The microstrip antenna comprising a dielectric coated metal strip radiates microwave between the sputtering cathode and a cathode dark space that is formed near the sputtering cathode. The microwave enhances plasma density in the cathode dark space. With the assistance of the microwave source, the sputtering target is able to operate at a lower pressure, a lower voltage and may yield higher deposition rates than without the microwave source. The target may have a generally circular or rectangular cross section. The microstrip may be of a curved strip such as a ring shape or a straight strip, depending upon the shape of the sputtering target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a dry etching mask. A plurality of aluminum oxide films are sequentially sputtered on a material to be dry etched in such a manner that etching rate with respect to reactive ion etching increases toward a lower layer. On a laminated film of the plurality of aluminum oxide films, there is formed a first mask that has etching resistance with respect to the reactive ion etching. Reactive ion etching is performed from above the first mask to form a second mask of the laminated film.

Abstract: The present techniques provide systems and methods for mounting an electrolyzer stack in an outer shell so as to allow for differential thermal expansion of the electrolyzer stack and shell. Generally, an electrolyzer stack may be formed from a material with a high coefficient of thermal expansion, while the shell may be formed from a material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion. The differences between the coefficients of thermal expansion may lead to damage to the electrolyzer stack as the shell may restrain the thermal expansion of the electrolyzer stack. To allow for the differences in thermal expansion, the electrolyzer stack may be mounted within the shell leaving a space between the electrolyzer stack and shell. The space between the electrolyzer stack and the shell may be filled with a non-conductive fluid to further equalize pressure inside and outside of the electrolyzer stack.

Abstract: According to the invention, a surface cleaning device comprises an electrolytic cell for generating bleach for use with a cleaning pad. The electrolytic cell is in fluid communication with the cleaning pad for delivering bleach to a surface to be cleaned. According to another embodiment of the invention, the surface cleaning device is a hand-held cleaning device capable of selectively generating bleach at the request of a user directly in the cleaning pad. A sufficient amount of bleach for cleaning a surface can be generated within the electrolytic cell at the request of a user, eliminating the need for storing and transporting large quantities of bleach.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cathode plate (1) that is used in the electrolytic cleaning and recovery of metals, the cathode plate being at least partly manufactured of stainless steel and the surface of the cathode plate being treated in at least one stage, whereby the cathode plate is formed by cutting it from a solid plate-like material (2), whereby, essentially before cutting (4) the cathode plate to shape, at least part of the surface constituting the cathode plate is subjected to a mechanical treatment (3) to improve the adhesion properties of the surface. The invention also relates to the cathode plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides microwave systems and methods for achieving better control of process and film properties by optimizing plasma containment shield shaping around an antenna. By using a containment shield, plasma generated by microwave may become more homogeneous, and the pressure inside a processing chamber may be reduced. By optimizing the shape of the containment shield, the lifetime of metastable radical species may be increased. One aspect of extending the lifetime of metastable radical species is to allow better control of chemical reaction and thus help achieve the desired film properties. For an array of antennas, the containment shield comprises a dielectric coated metal base with dividers between the antennas. The divider comprises a dielectric material or a mixture of a dielectric layer and a dielectric coated metal layer, and allows coupling among the antennas.

Abstract: According to the method, drops of an adhesive material are deposited on one of the plates, with the drops being spaced from one another. A grid having a predefined thickness lower than that of the drops is applied to the plate receiving the drops. A perpendicular and uniform pressure is applied to at least one of the plates, so that the drops (3) spread and come into contact with the opposing sides of the two plates. The spacing of the drops is defined so that after spreading under the pressure applied, air is not trapped between the drops.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an excellent biosensor which can perform supply of a sample solution accurately and easily. A biosensor which has a capillary (7) for collecting a sample solution and analyzes a specific substance in the sample solution is provided with, in addition to an air hole (9), at least two supply ports, i.e., a sample supply port (13) and an auxiliary sample supply port (14), so that supply of the sample solution can be performed from either of the supply ports (13) and (14). Even when the sample supply port (13) is closed up with a fingertip or the like and supply of the sample solution is stopped, the sample solution can be quickly supplied from the other auxiliary sample supply port (14).

Abstract: A vibrator has a large strength of a standing wave even with a low driving voltage, thereby improving the accuracy of component separation. A device according to the present invention includes a substrate having a channel groove provided in an upper surface of the substrate, a seal provided above the substrate so as to cover an upper opening of the channel groove, a projection provided on an outer side wall opposite to the channel groove, and a vibrator causing the projection to warp and vibrate in a depth direction of the channel groove. The warping vibration of the projection is amplified due to effect of leverage, and generates a large stress on the outer wall of the channel groove having the projection provided thereon. Consequently, the strength of a standing wave in the channel groove increases even for a low driving voltage, thereby improving the accuracy of component separation.

Abstract: A hollow electrochemical cell is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a hollow electrochemical cell includes two sets of electrodes and an opening for admitting an analyte to the cell. At least one of the two sets of electrodes can be in fluid communication with the opening. Further, a first set of electrodes can include a working electrode spaced from a counter or counter/reference electrode by less than 500 ?m. In one embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are not co-planer. In another embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are of substantially corresponding area. In yet another embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are spaced from 100 to 200 ?m apart. The first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes can be spaced apart by greater than about 500 ?m. Other embodiments of a hollow electrochemical cell are also provided, as are several embodiments of a glucose sensor.

Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting the length of analytes and/or sequencing analytes are provided in which two or more electrical signals are obtained as an analyte traverses a fluidic channel. Detection of the relative position of probes hybridized to a biopolymer and/or the length of the analyte (e.g., a biopolymer) does not rely on the absolute time between detection events of a given electrical signal to determine a distance associated with the biopolymer. Instead, multiple signals are obtained (e.g., as functions of time) corresponding to a plurality of detector volumes at known locations along a fluidic channel through which the biopolymer passes, and the distances are determined from the multiple signals.